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Arsenal 'thrashed by QPR' in private friendly but Mikel Arteta handed double boost
Mikel Arteta has two major positives to take despite Arsenal's heavy defeat at QPR during the international break.
Arsenal need a strong end to the season to prove that the project is working
Arsenal reportedly suffered a 4-0 defeat against Championship side Queens Park Rangers in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Thursday. But Mikel Arteta has two positive takeaways from the trip to west London that provide his squad with a boost ahead of another Premier League title run-in.
Arsenal have a crunch period ahead in their pursuit of a first league title since the Invincibles season in 2004. A mouth-watering Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich is also on the agenda.
Arteta has been pumping game time into players who aren't away with their national teams during the first week of the international break.
Takehiro Tomiyasu and Thomas Partey reportedly built on their recent returns to action as the sole two first-team stars who featured in a four-goal thrashing at QPR.
According to Football.London, Arteta took a squad containing mostly U21 players across the capital city, but Tomiyasu and Partey were involved.
On Wednesday, Arsenal announced that the former had signed a new long-term contract at the Emirates Stadium days after Ben White committed his future to the club.
The Japanese right-back reportedly played the first half, while Partey also started and played for just over an hour before making way.
Tomiyasu has managed just 20 appearances this season - 10 of them starts - due to a calf injury that resulted in two different spells on the sidelines.
Meanwhile Partey has succumbed to a series of muscle problems, playing just 366 minutes of football all campaign.
Both made their returns to action this month, though, and are building up their fitness to play an important role in the coming months.
Against QPR, Ovie Ejeheri (20) started in goal. Tomiyasu started alongside Joshua Nichols (17), Josh Robinson (19) and Taylor Foran (20) in defence.
Partey lined up with Myles Lewis-Skelly (17) and Jimi Gower (19) in midfield, with Amario Cozier-Duberry (18), Nathan Butler-Oyedeji (21) and Osman Kamara (17) as the front line.
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The report adds that Jurrien Timber didn't take part but has stepped up his recovery after suffering an ACL injury at the start of his Arsenal career last year.
The 22-year-old defender has been involved with training sessions that don't put stress on his knee and is working at the Sobha Realty Centre to be ready to return before the end of the season.
Arsenal are currently top of the Premier League but are level on 64 points with Liverpool and just one ahead of reigning champions and favourites Manchester City.
Arteta's side travel to the Etihad Stadium next weekend for a potentially season-defining clash against City. They have yet to visit Brighton and Hove Albion, Tottenham Hotspur, and Manchester United.