Just when you thought Thomas Partey was ready to show the Premier League what he's all about, the Arsenal midfielder has suffered yet another injury setback.

After the Ghana international joined from Atletico Madrid on deadline day last summer, the £45m-rated star has had very little consistency in actually getting out onto the pitch - he's made just 11 appearances in the Premier League, and completed the full 90 minutes just three times.

And, after limping off mid-way through the second-half against Aston Villa last week, it looks like Mikel Arteta's worst fears have come true.

The Gunners' official club website revealed: "Thomas sustained a strain to his left hamstring during last Saturday’s match at Aston Villa and will miss the match against Leeds United on Sunday. Thomas will continue to be assessed and rehabilitate from this injury."

Speaking just last month, Arteta admitted his frustrations at seeing Partey's debut campaign at the Emirates so disrupted by injuries.

He said: "I think he’s got a different presence – he brings something different to the team. It’s not just about his talent, it’s not just about his physicality, it’s who he is as a person. He makes players better around him and that’s a big, big quality.

"It’s incredible that we are in January, we signed him in October and we have only played him (a handful of times). We haven’t really seen the impact he could have on the team. Obviously we have missed him … I think it’s going to be a big bonus if we can keep him fit."

And just as Partey seemed to finally get going in an Arsenal shirt, the injury curse has struck again, and the Gunners will have to make do without their marquee summer signing once again.

After winning the FA Cup last season, Arteta would have been hoping that the players he signed in the transfer window would be able to take the team to the next level.

Instead, his superstar signing of Partey has barely managed to make himself consistently fit, and that will surely have the Gunners boss fuming and cursing his luck.

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