Arteta declares Thomas Partey fit for Real Madrid showdown

Partey: Photo Credit: Arsenal FC.

Arsenal FC’s manager Mikel Arteta has declared midfield general Thomas Partey is fit for Wednesday evening’s crunch UEFA Champions League quarter-final second-leg match against hosts Real Madrid FC.

The Ghanaian was substituted in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first-leg match that the Gunners won 3-0 over Real Madrid last week. Declan Rice scored a freekick brace and Mikel Merino added the third at Emirates Stadium.

Ahead of the second leg match at the Stadio Santiago Bernabeu, Arteta confirmed that Partey had recovered from a knock. “[Thomas Partey] is available, he had a niggle in the game, that's why he had to come off, but he felt good after the last few days, so he's fine,” he told a pre-match conference in Spain.

Earlier, the Black Stars player shared his thoughts after scoring in Saturday’s one-all draw against Brentford FC in a dress rehearsal for a big clash against Real Madrid. Partey scored his fourth league goal of the campaign before Brentford fought back to equalize through Congolese Yaone Wissa in the second-half.

The ex-Atletico Madrid star explained how the Premier League match was important for Arsenal ahead of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal, second-leg match in Madrid.

“I think we have experienced this many times when we play here and I think it's not going to be something different. We just have to be confident with the ball and try to play our game,” he told Arsenal media.

“We all know what we have to do. We have to go there with the mentality to win. We want to win every game. And I think we have to play our game, be confident with the ball, and also try to find our weaknesses and keep attacking them.”

The UEFA Champions League presents Arsenal the more realistic prospect for silverware as they are in second place in the Premier League, 10 points behind leaders Liverpool.