Why Thomas Partey missed Arsenal vs PSG as Champions League rules explained

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Thomas Partey is one of a few key absences from the Arsenal team in their clash with PSG in the Champions League semi-final first leg.

The Gunners play host to the French giants at the Emirates Stadium, hopeful of picking up a positive result to take with them to the Parc des Princes.

A place in the Champions League final is up for grabs, with Mikel Arteta looking to make history with only a second appearance at that stage in the club’s history.

PSG provide formidable opposition, though, having improved in the second half of the campaign.

For Arsenal, the challenge is only multiplied by the absence of some key players, not least Thomas Partey, who misses out on the tie.

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Thomas Partey misses out on Arsenal vs PSG due to Champions League suspension

Arsenal take on PSG in a crucial first-leg meeting in the Champions League, one that will force some changes within Arteta’s squad.

One of which is Thomas Partey, who is suspended to face off against the Parisian outfit on Tuesday night.

The Ghanaian international picked up a third yellow card of the campaign last time out against Real Madrid, which means, under the Champions League rules, he misses the following game.

It was a frustrating caution to pick up, with it being an unnecessary one so late in the previous match, with the threshold now removed for the semi-final and final.

“We know that we lost Thomas [Partey], unfortunately, very late in the game against Real Madrid,” Arteta recently said ahead of the match against PSG.

However, there are options available to replace him with Mikel Merino, the most obvious replacement for the midfield.

He isn’t the only absence, though, with some other injury concerns within the squad itself.

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Arsenal injury concerns for PSG clash

While Partey is out through suspension, there are a few other injury issues for Arsenal to deal with as well.

Riccardo Calafiori is out injured, having failed to make a return in time to feature for the Gunners, despite some hope that he would be available.

Jorginho is absent after an issue he picked up a few weeks ago, impacting the midfield depth available.

Beyond them are long-term problems for Kai Havertz, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Jesus.