Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has been cleared to travel with the squad for their UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg against Real Madrid, despite concerns over a recent injury.
The Ghana international, who was substituted during the weekend’s draw with Brentford due to an unspecified knock, has since resumed full training and is expected to be available for selection at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Partey’s recovery comes as a significant boost for manager Mikel Arteta, particularly with fellow midfielder Jorginho sidelined due to a rib injury sustained in the same match.
The Italian’s absence is anticipated to last several weeks, ruling him out of the crucial European fixture.
In addition to Partey, defender Ben White has returned to training after missing the Brentford game, further strengthening Arsenal’s options ahead of the high-stakes encounter.
However, the team will still be without Riccardo Calafiori, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Jesus, who remain sidelined due to long-term injuries.
Arsenal enters the second leg with a commanding 3-0 advantage from the first match at the Emirates Stadium, where Declan Rice’s two set-piece goals and Mikel Merino’s strike secured a dominant victory.
Despite the lead, the Gunners are cautious of Real Madrid’s history of remarkable comebacks in European competitions.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, faces its own challenges, including internal disruptions and injury concerns.
Notably, Kylian Mbappé received a red card in a recent La Liga match, and tensions reportedly flared between Jude Bellingham and Antonio Rüdiger during training.
