Thomas Partey was welcomed back to Arsenal training by his teammates with some lighthearted rituals, after returning from injury.
The 30-year-old returns as Arsenal face FC Portoin their first Champions League round of 16 tie.
As Partey took part in his first full training session since being sidelined, his teammates lined up to celebrate having him back with teammates showing their delight at having him back by gentle mocking, shirt-pulling, and light hits.
The spirited antics highlight the close camaraderie among the Arsenal squad, as they expressed joy at seeing Partey healthy and available again after his months of rehab. Though Partey still needs to regain full fitness, his return offered a morale boost to the team moving forward.
Arsenal take on FC Porto in their first Champions League round of 16 tie in seven years, with the first leg in Portugal on Wednesday night.
The Ghana international is yet to play in the Champions League this season for the Gunners, and hasn’t featured at all since October in a cameo against Manchester City.
But his recovery marks a a huge to Coach Mikel Arteta
