Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has been ruled out of his side's crucial clash with Everton on Sunday because of injury, according to a report.
The Ghanaian has been unavailable for the Gunners since limping out of the 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at the beginning of April due to a thigh injury.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta had previously ruled the 28-year-old out for the remainder of the campaign, before later hinting that Partey was making progress in his recovery quicker than expected.
However, football.london are reporting that Partey will miss Arsenal's final game of the season against the Toffees at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday owing to the persistent thigh problem.
The report suggests that the midfielder has been taking part in individual training sessions of late but that the medical staff have deemed it to be too risky to include him in the matchday squad.
Arsenal head into the game two points behind North-London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the race for the top four, and with a significantly inferior goal difference, the Gunners require Spurs to lose to Norwich City on the final day, and for themselves to record all three points, to qualify for next season's Champions League.
Meanwhile, prior to his injury, Partey had made 24 Premier League appearances this season, scoring two goals and registering one assist in an improved campaign.
Matthew Tranter
