Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey ruled out of Leeds United clash along with four Gunners players

Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has been ruled out of this weekend's Premier League clash with Leeds United at Elland Road.

Mikel Arteta's headline summer signing will miss the trip to West Yorkshire after failing to recover from a thigh strain over the November international break.

Partey limped off during his side's 3-0 defeat to Aston Villa at the Emirates two weeks ago with Arsenal initially hopeful he would recover in time for the clash with the Whites.

The midfielder, though, has come up short in his bid to battle back to full fitness in time to take on Marcelo Bielsa's outfit.

"We knew it was a significant injury," Arteta said during his pre-match press conference.

"He's done very well and he's working very hard, he wants to be available. Hopefully we can get him back soon but it's an area where we need to be careful and we need to be protective with the player."

The Gunners will also be without Partey's midfield partner Mohamed Elneny and defender Sead Kolasinac on Sunday afternoon in LS11.

Both players have tested positive for coronavirus in recent days and are currently self-isolating in line with government guidelines.

Elneny contracted the virus whilst featuring for Egypt earlier this week while Kolasinac was away with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Arteta remains without long-term absentees Pablo Mari (ankle) and Gabriel Martinelli (knee) for the foreseeable future.