Mikel Arteta explains Thomas Partey's absence ahead of Arsenal's top-of-the-table showdown against Man City

• Injury comes as late surprise
• Partey experiencing back pain
• Jorginho starts in midfield

WHAT HAPPENED? Arteta said Partey is suffering from back pain and is not available for a match with major Premier League title implications. In a statement on Twitter, the club added that it was a tight muscle in his back.

WHAT THEY SAID: "It's what happens in football, players pick [up] injuries," Arteta told Amazon Prime Video. "Unfortunately Thomas felt something in his back muscle and he wasn't available to play today."

On Jorginho filling in for Partey, Arteta added: "That's why we brought him here, for these occasions and because that was a possibility and we planned for that, and Jorgi has the opportunity today."

ARSENAL LINE-UP VS MAN CITY: Ramsdale; Tomiyasu, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Jorginho, Xhaka, Odegaard; Saka, Martinelli, Nketiah.

THE BIGGER PICTURE: Arteta also spoke pre-match about Tomiyasu's inclusion, telling Amazon: "Tomi deserves a chance as well, because you need to be very adaptable in these games and Tomi has this quality, and we want to give him a chance."

IN A PHOTO:

Getty Images

WHAT'S NEXT FOR PARTEY? Arsenal reportedly do not believe the injury to be serious but will closely monitor the midfielder's status ahead of a weekend trip to Villa Park.