Arsenal fans are conceding defeat in their climactic clash with Manchester City on Wednesday (February 15) after Thomas Partey was left out of the game. The Gunners received Pep Guardiola’s army at the Emirates in a game of great significance for the title.
Mikel Arteta’s team is leading the Premier League but only 3 points behind Man City. That explains the importance of Wednesday night’s match between the two rivalries. This is the first time the two sides have met in the national championship this season.
weapon fans were ready to give up, with Partey completely absent from the matchday lineup. The Ghanaian midfielder has been a mainstay for the Gunners this season with 23 appearances, scoring twice and helping his side keep 12 clean sheets. The north Londoners have only lost three times in matches with him alongside.
Meanwhile, Aaron Ramsdale started in goal, with Takehiro Tomiyasu, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Oleksandr Zinchenko in defence. Arteta chose Jorginho over Partey. Gunners new contract comes with Granit Xhaka and Martin Odegaard in midfield. The familiar trio of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Eddie Nketiah lined up to attack.
Anxiety among Emirates followers is building, and party‘s absence has come as a blow. One fan thinks the Gunners’ chances of winning the title are over:
“The title passed. (Sad face).”
Another suggested that Partey should be sold due to his latest failure:
“Sell him. Enough.”
Here’s how Twitter reacted to the former Atletico Madrid man missing out on the top spot against Manchester City due to a muscle injury:
Arsenal legend Tony Adams urges Arteta to drop Zinchenko against Manchester City
Zinchenko joined Arsenal from Manchester City last summer for £30m. The Ukrainian has quickly become a fan favorite with Gunners with his passion and consistent form. He made 18 appearances, assisted and helped his team keep 7 clean sheets.
However, Adams advised Arteta to get rid of the former Man City player, as he was apprehensive about how Zinchenko might deal with Riyad Mahrez. Adams told The Sun:
“I will use Tomi at left-back instead of Oleksandr Zinchenko to take care of Mahrez because then Arsenal will have enough midfield and upper line to exploit the weakness on the left of Man City’s defence and turn the situation around. .”
Instead, Tomiyasu was picked at right-back, with Ben White on the bench. Had Zinchenko been on the bench, the English defender might have started.
Gunners face City of Manchester sides deal with off-field drama amid accusations of breaching the Premier League’s financial fair play rules. They suffered a 0-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on 5 February. However, they responded with a convincing 3-1 win over Aston Villa last weekend, and Mahrez was to blame.
