Thomas Partey among seven Arsenal players not to travel on pre-season tour of US
Arsenal flew to the United States to begin their pre-season tour on Sunday, but Thomas Partey was one of seven players who have not travelled with the squad.
The 30-year-old has been linked with a move away from Arsenal this summer following interest from multiple Saudi Pro League clubs and Juventus.
Partey took part in Arsenal’s pre-season friendly against Nurnberg last Thursday but was missing from the squad as they boarded their flight to the United States on Sunday.
Why are Thomas Partey and six other Arsenal players not travelling?
Arsenal have not explained Partey’s absence but have said: ‘We expect Emile Smith Rowe and Thomas Partey to join us next week.’ Smith Rowe has been granted an extended break after playing for England in their successful Under-21 European Championship campaign this summer.
Nicolas Pepe, Cedric Soares and Albert Sambi Lokonga, who all left Arsenal on loan last season, have also stayed behind and will continue to train away from the first-team squad.
Nuno Tavares, who spent last season on loan at Marseille, has also stayed behind and is not considered part of Mikel Arteta’s plans.
Reiss Nelson, who signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal earlier this month, is also among those who have not travelled to the United States due to injury.
Who is in the Arsenal travelling squad?
Arsenal’s record £105 million signing Declan Rice was among the 27 players who boarded the flight from London Stansted on Sunday afternoon. Jurrien Timber, who completed this £40m move from Ajax on Friday, is also part of the travelling squad.
Arsenal’s first game of their United States tour will be against an MLS All-Stars team managed by Wayne Rooney in Washington D.C on July 19. Mikel Arteta’s side will then face Manchester United in New Jersey on July 22. Arsenal’s final fixture of the tour is against Barcelona in Los Angeles on July 26.
ARSENAL TRAVELLING PRE-SEASON TOUR SQUAD
GOALKEEPERS: Aaron Ramsdale, Alex Runarsson, Karl Hein
DEFENDERS: William Saliba, Kieran Tierney, Ben White, Gabriel Magalhaes, Jurrien Timber, Jakub Kiwior, Rob Holding, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Auston Trusty, Oleksandr Zinchenko
MIDFIELDERS: Martin Odegaard, Jorginho, Fabio Vieira, Mohamed Elneny, Kai Havertz, Declan Rice
ATTACKERS: Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Eddie Nketiah, Leandro Trossard, Folarin Balogun, Marquinhos, Amario Cozier-Duberry
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