Thomas Partey has been named in Arsenal’s 33-man squad for their pre-season US tour
Thomas Partey has been named in Arsenal’s squad for their pre-season tour of America despite reports claiming the midfielder was set to be left out.
Partey, 29, did not travel to Germany for the Gunners’ 5-3 win over Nurnberg on Friday, one week after he returned from a thigh injury to take part in a friendly against Ipswich.
ARSENAL SQUAD FOR US TOUR IN FULL
Goalkeepers: Aaron Ramsdale, Bernd Leno, Matt Turner, Arthur Okonkwo, Alex Runarsson
Defenders: Kieran Tierney, Nuno Tavares, Gabriel, Pablo Mari, Ben White, Rob Holding, William Saliba, Hector Bellerin, Cedric Soares, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Reuell Walters
Midfielders: Mohamed Elneny, Lucas Torreira, Thomas Partey, Emile Smith Rowe, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Granit Xhaka, Martin Odegaard, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Fabio Vieira, Reiss Nelson
Forwards: Gabriel Martinelli, Eddie Nketiah, Gabriel Jesus, Nicolas Pepe, Bukayo Saka, Folarin Balogun, Marquinhos.
However, Partey has since been named in Arsenal’s 33-man squad alongside both Leno and Balogun, making the trip Stateside ahead of their outing against Everton in Baltimore, Maryland, on Sunday.
Arsenal’s other US fixtures come against Orlando City and Chelsea in Orlando, Florida, over the next six days.
They will then return home for a final pre-season clash against Sevilla in the Emirates Cup on July 30.
The group of players heading off on their tour of America includes a host of stars with uncertain futures, including Hector Bellerin, Nicolas Pepe and Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
Leno is also closing in on a £10million switch to newly-promoted Fulham, who are keen to prise him away from north London after he recently entered the final year of his contract.
As they gear up for his exit, Arsenal have brought in USA goalkeeper Matt Turner to provide competition for No 1 Aaron Ramsdale over the coming season.
Balogun, meanwhile, could leave the Gunners on loan this summer after spending the second half of last season with Middlesbrough, where he scored three goals in 18 appearances.
Partey will be keen to rebuild his match fitness in the weeks leading up to the 2022-23 campaign, having missed the final two months of the previous one due to injury.
Aside from exceptions, foreign travellers are not able to enter the United States unless they are fully vaccinated against Covid-19. The Swiss FA claimed Granit Xhaka declined a vaccine in September of last year, although it is unclear whether his position has changed.
Source: Dailymail.co.uk
