Arteta provided an update on the fitness status of Timber and Partey

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta provided updates on the health status of defender Jurrien Timber and midfielder Thomas Partey.

Timber is still recovering from a cruciate ligament tear sustained back in August. Partey, on the other hand, only returned from the sidelines at the end of December after dealing with a subpatellar tendon injury.

“Jurrien Timber is still far from being back with us, it’s long term injury. Thomas Partey? Unfortunately he’s still far from training for the team” Arteta said.

Timber, who joined Arsenal from Ajax for €40 million in the summer, has played in only two matches for his new team before suffering a serious injury.

Partey was not selected for Ghana's squad in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations final. The midfielder has been sidelined since October.

Arsenal has not secured a victory in the last three Premier League matches. As the new year begins, Arteta's team is positioned in fourth place in the league table. On January 7th, the Gunners will face Liverpool in the FA Cup.

It was previously reported that the London club is close to extending the contract with their key defender.