Lack of Partey presence proves costly for Arsenal

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Arsenal’s loss to PSG was shaped by Thomas Partey’s avoidable suspension, which left a key tactical gap in Mikel Arteta’s side, writes Dylan Johnson.

Partey missed the Emirates clash after being handed a one-match ban due to yellow card accumulation. The booking came late in Arsenal’s quarter-final second-leg win over Real Madrid at the Bernabéu. With the tie already settled, Partey became involved in an unnecessary altercation with Antonio Rüdiger and Dani Ceballos in the 85th minute. The caution, his third of the competition, triggered the suspension. It was a completely avoidable incident — and Partey let his team down.

Without him, Arsenal lacked control in midfield. Declan Rice dropped deeper to cover defensively, while Mikel Merino was brought in to fill the gap. But the balance was off. From the start, PSG seized the initiative. Just four minutes in, Ousmane Dembélé rifled home after a slick combination with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Arsenal never fully recovered.

In midfield, Joao Neves and Vitinha ran the show for the visitors. The young Portuguese duo dictated the tempo, pressing high and circulating the ball calmly under pressure. Merino looked uncomfortable in the pivot role, often caught between defensive duties and pushing forward. Ødegaard, further up, was crowded out and couldn’t find any influence between the lines.

Arsenal carved out a few chances — Martinelli and Trossard forced Gianluigi Donnarumma into smart saves — but lacked composure and fluidity. Even when Merino bundled the ball into the net after the restart, the moment was quickly cut short by VAR for offside.

It wasn’t just that PSG scored early — it was that they controlled the rhythm. And Arsenal had no answer. Partey’s absence removed their most effective midfield shield and line-breaker. His composure under pressure and ability to recover possession in tight spaces were sorely missed.

Now, Arsenal travel to Paris with a 1-0 deficit and everything to play for. The good news? Partey will return for the second leg. If Arsenal are to reach the final in Munich, they’ll need him to deliver the performance he denied them in London.

Photo: David Ramos/Getty Images

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Dylan Johnson