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Arsenal’s international break to-do list: Get Thomas Partey fit and work out how to keep Mo Salah quiet

Arsenal’s international break to-do list: Get Thomas Partey fit and work out how to keep Mo Salah quiet

Arsenal head into the November international break off the back of a ten-game unbeaten streak and, as such, Mikel Arteta’s to-do list for the next two weeks is smaller than it has been in the past.

Arteta, though, still has some issues to address as he continues to rebuild Arsenal into a side challenging at the top of the Premier League.

Here, Standard Sport looks at three items on Arteta’s to-do list as the Premier League heads into a two-week hiatus…

Make sure Thomas Partey is fit to face Liverpool

This should be at the top of Arteta’s priority list as Arsenal prepare for a crunch trip to Anfield on November 20.

Partey was absent for Sunday’s 1-0 win over Watford because of a tight groin and Arsenal will want him to recover in time to face Liverpool.

Partey has been called up by Ghana for international duty, though it remains to be seen whether he joins up with them, having delayed his departure.

Arsenal will not want to risk Partey aggravating his injury, particularly given he was absent for the whole of August too. His fitness must be carefully managed.

 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Somehow devise a plan to keep Mohamed Salah quiet

Right, well obviously this task is easier said than done.

Salah has been the best player in the Premier League this season, and arguably the world, and Arsenal face the daunting task of trying to stop him next weekend.

It may seem like an impossible job, but West Ham managed to keep him relatively quiet and Arsenal have looked defensively solid recently.

A returning Kieran Tierney would help, while one suspects Emile Smith Rowe may have plenty of tracking back to do at Anfield. Whatever the solution is, Arteta must try to find it before Arsenal head to Liverpool.

 (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
(Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Keep expectations in check

Arsenal are riding the crest of a wave right now, but Arteta has been quick to stress that they have achieved nothing yet.

The Gunners are unbeaten in their last 10 games, but all their hard work can be undone if they take their foot off the gas.

Arteta has been adamant that will not happen, saying only the other week after beating Leicester: “It’s another game, we are on a good run and we have to continue to do so because there are still a lot of things we have to improve.”

That is the right tone to strike from Arteta and he should be reinforcing it now as Arsenal prepare for a busy few months.

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