Arteta confirms Thomas Partey injury blow after Manchester City loss

 lost with one goal against

 in the FA Cup fourth round on Friday.

who has started in 16 Premier League games for Arsenal this season was replaced by Sambi Lokonga at half-time.

After the game, Mikel Arteta said the Ghanaian midfielder could not continue due to a rib issue.

"He felt something and we didn't want to take any risks, so he could not continue,"

Arteta told reporters.

"He had some discomfort and it was getting worse and worse.

"Tomorrow or the day after we'll have to have an MRI scan and see what he has."

After Partey's injury scare and Elneny's serious injury, Arteta was asked whether they would try to sign another midfielder in January.

"At the moment we've had the injury of Mo [Elneny] – it's been impossible to get him fit,"

Arteta said.

"Sambi's come in and I think he's done well. That's why we have players. It's true that Thomas is a big influence, a big personality and an important player in our squad. In the second half, we didn't have him."

Arsenal reportedly has made a £60 million bid for Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo which has been rejected. Caicedo who is also a target for Chelsea and Liverpool posted a message on his social media pages on Friday and asked Brighton to let him leave in January.

"You know that I'm not going to comment on any players until anything is done,"

Arteta said.

'"As I said before, we've been pretty active in the market. We have some necessities and if something else is available, the club is willing to try to do it when it's reasonable.

"Hopefully [that would be] a player that can improve our squad."

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