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Arsenal soon to discover their own Casemiro as huge weakness set to be exposed vs Tottenham

Thomas Partey in action for Arsenal
-Credit: (Image: (Photo by Neal Simpson/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)


Arsenal could see a worrying issue exposed in this weekend's North London Derby against Tottenham. Preparations for Sunday's clash at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium have been interrupted for Mikel Arteta with the September international break taking the focus for many of his players.

Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber and William Saliba were just a few to depart north London. The Gunners have been fortunate with injuries in the opening few weeks of the campaign, but that looks to have now changed.

Summer signing Mikel Merino picked up a training injury in late August with Martin Odegaard and Riccardo Calafiori also dealt fresh concerns. While in action for Italy against France, Calafiori appeared to pick up an injury with it swiftly decided he would return to England, however the issue does not look to be serious.

The same unfortunately cannot be said for Odegaard with the club captain likely to miss at least three weeks after rolling his ankle in Norway's Nations League win over Austria. Declan Rice is also suspended for the clash after being sent off against Brighton which could see Arteta without three senior midfielders.

As such, Thomas Partey will likely be the only member of Arsenal's first-choice midfield to keep his place. The Ghana international was expected to depart this past summer, with his contract expiring at the conclusion of the current season, however he remained at the club despite interest from Italy and Saudi Arabia.

Partey has somewhat struggled to dominate his midfield battles this season with Odegaard and Rice often helping him out of some tricky situations. With Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba also behind him, Partey has been protected but that does not look set to be the case this weekend.

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With two of Jorginho, Kai Havertz or Leandro Trossard expected to partner him in a midfield three, the pressure will be on Partey, as the regular starter, to step up. The 31-year-old excels in some departments but he struggles out of possession with Manchester United's Casemiro and former Liverpool man Fabinho having faced similar problems.

Though the three experienced midfielders are capable of reading the game in front of them, they have often been caught out taking too much time on the ball and ultimately being dispossessed in vulnerable areas. With a new midfield set to be around him, Partey could see his biggest weakness exposed with Spurs primed to take advantage.