PARTEY RETURNS TO ARSENAL STARTING XI

Ghana international Thomas Partey made his return to the Arsenal starting XI for the preseason friendly clash with English League One side Ipswich Town at the Gunners’ London Colney training ground a week ago. The Ghana national team vice-captain played the first 45 minutes as Arsenal thrashed their guests 5-1 thanks to the goals from Eddie Nketiah (hat-trick), Albert-SambiLokonga and substitute Folarin Balogun who has just returned from a loan spell at English Championship outfit Middlesbrough.

Arsenal fans were delighted that Partey is back on the pitch after he missed the last two months of last season due to athigh problem. His absence was keenly felt as the Gunners lost out to Tottenham Hotspur in the battle for Champions League football for the new season. Spurs clinched the fourth and final Champions League spot from the Premier League ahead of the Gunners as they joined Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea as the four English representatives.

For their second preseason game this summer at Arsenal, Ghana international Partey was missing as the North London giants came from two goals down to see off German Bundesliga II outfit Nuremberg. The Gunners faced Nuremberg whilethey were on the tour of Germany. Arsenal travelled to Germany earlier this week without Partey in their squad. While they were in Germany, manager Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal players were camped at the Adidas headquarters.
For the Nuremberg game, Arteta and his players scored five goals in the second half as they came from two goals down to beat their hosts 5-3. New signing was the star of the game after he scored a brace as a substitute. He's a £45m signing from fellow Premier League club Manchester City. Apart from Brazilian star Gabriel Jesus, Egyptian midfielder Mohammed ElNeny also found the back of the net as a substitute.