Jamie Carragher slams Thomas Partey for ‘daft’ moment before PSG clash, it could cost Arsenal

Add as preferred source on Google

Arsenal’s upcoming clashes with PSG in the Champions League are set to be some of the biggest games of the season for Mikel Arteta.

The Gunners made it to the Champions League semi-final as underdogs, beating Real Madrid over two legs to secure a place in the final four.

With the competition now opening up, Arsenal take on PSG in the semi-final, with the final in Munich now in reach.

At least 180 minutes of tense football is set to play out, starting at the Emirates Stadium, to decide if the Gunners are capable of reaching just their second Champions League final ever.

With Mikel Arteta mulling over his options to play in the Arsenal side, there is a problem in having to replace Thomas Partey for the first meeting in north London.

• READ MORE: Theo Walcott claims ‘underrated’ Arsenal star is ‘putting pressure’ on Mikel Arteta for PSG team decision

Jamie Carragher slams Thomas Partey for ‘daft’ suspension for PSG match

Thomas Partey is suspended for Arsenal’s first leg clash against PSG in the Champions League semi-final.

The midfielder picked up his third yellow card of the competition late on against Real Madrid last time out in the competition, resulting in a one-match ban.

There will be some frustration over the circumstances for a few reasons, one of which is that it was the final game before the cards reset, but also that it was entirely avoidable.

It’s a moment that Jamie Carragher has slammed ahead of the meeting with PSG, saying on Sky Sports: “What a daft yellow card for Partey late on in the Bernabeu, the game is already won really. It gives him [Mikel Arteta] a conundrum.”

That conundrum is only furthered by Jorginho’s injury, which is set to keep him out of action for the next few weeks.

That leaves one of a few different unorthodox options to pick from, all of which could require a trade-off in other positions.

In all, though, it’s a moment from Partey that could be quite costly as a result, with the big match now under one week away.

• READ MORE: Staggering statistic shows Arsenal are struggling in one key area, Mikel Arteta must fix it

Options to replace Thomas Partey against PSG

The options for Arsenal to replace Thomas Partey can create a little bit of a mess when it comes to moving players around.

Mikel Merino is the only natural midfielder left who could drop into that role, but that could create a question surrounding who plays as the striker.

Beyond him, there is an opportunity to drop Martin Odegaard into a deeper role and play Ethan Nwaneri as the attacking playmaker.

The full-back ranks also have plenty of options who are comfortable with dropping into central areas, offering a chance for Myles Lewis-Skelly or Riccardo Calafiori, on return from his injury, to shine.

It remains to be seen who Arteta opts for, but either way, it isn’t an optimal situation for him to be in with the suspension.