Mikel Arteta laments injured Thomas Partey's decision to 'walk off'

by Staff Reporter

Wednesday Dec 09, 2020. 14:00

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that he plans to talk with Thomas Partey following what happened on the cusp of half-time in the club’s 2-0 defeat away to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

The Ghana international walked towards the Arsenal bench and was standing on the touchline amid a Spurs counter-attack, which ultimately led to Harry Kane doubling the hosts’ lead.

Partey, who seemed to have suffered a recurrence of a thigh injury he picked up last month, only returned to the side this past weekend and was standing next to Arteta as Kane thumped the ball into the roof of the net.

Arteta was seen trying to urge Partey back onto the field to try and stop Spurs but the midfielder could only run a few yards before stopping.

“I was trying to push him but I don’t think he realised the gravity of the situation when he left his position but that was probably because he was in a lot of pain,” Arteta told reporters in the aftermath.

“Suddenly they are coming to attack us and Thomas is walking to me and I was trying to push him. I haven’t spoken to him so I don’t know exactly how it happened or if he felt something really serious.”

Partey, 27, arrived at Emirates Stadium from Atletico Madrid for a reported 50 million euros in October. The midfielder’s potential absence will come as a huge blow to Arsenal who are set to play eight games in 23 days over the Christmas / New Year’s period.

Arsenal head into Sunday’s match at home to Burnley in 15th spot on the Premier League standings.