“He play like Caicedo and I don’t think I can compete with such player…I’m leaving next season”: Arsenal superstar Thomas Partey fumes over Mikel Arteta’s decision to sign Europe’s top midfielder, ready to leave next season

It’s been a very frustrating season for Arsenal supporters, but it could still end with the ultimate glory.

On Wednesday night, goals from Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli saw the Gunners win 2-1 at the Bernabéu, actually smashing Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate in the end, despite all the talk of a remontada.

The Gunners will now take on Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals, just the third time the club have ever reached the Champions League’s last four, with Gooners worldwide dreaming of making the pilgrimage to Munich for the final on 31 May.

Before PSG visit North London on Tuesday week, Mikel Arteta’s team do have two Premier League fixtures to fulfil, starting with a trip to Ipswich on Sunday, so could the boss experiment in Suffolk, with this huge European tie in mind.

Thomas Partey’s importance
With only five minutes remaining on the clock in Madrid, Thomas Partey, needlessly and stupidly, got himself booked by referee François Letexier, which was his third caution in as many Champions League appearances, meaning he will be suspended for the first leg against PSG.

Alex Howell of BBC Sport describes this as a ‘big blow’ considering how ‘important’ he has been this season, with James Olley of ESPN adding that, arguably, the Ghanian has enjoyed his best campaign for the club, managing to stay injury-free.

The table below underlines how important Partey has been since arriving from Atlético Madrid for £45m on deadline day in the summer of 2020.

Meantime, Toby Rathborne of Breaking the Lines believes Partey is amongst the best in the world when it comes to ‘technical skill and physical dominance’ as well as his ability to operate in tight spaces.

Thus, he will be a major miss as Arsenal seek to combat les Rouge-et-Bleu’s midfield trio of João Neves, Vitinha and Fabián Ruiz, which Graham Ruthven of Total Soccer Show believes to be the ‘best in the world’.

So, how will Arteta fill the Partey void against PSG? He faces quite the conundrum.

Arsenal’s alternative midfield options
The most obvious Partey deputy would be the vastly-experienced Jorginho however, he suffered a suspected broken rib against Brentford last weekend, therefore the Italian did not travel to Madrid in mid-week, with his participation against PSG currently in serious doubt.

Thus, alternatively, Arteta could move Mikel Merino back into midfield, with Leandro Trossard therefore coming into the side as the false nine but, speaking on the Arsecast, Andrew Mangan and Ryan Hunn both agreed they would not want to tinker with the Spaniard’s position, given his excellent form as the makeshift centre-forward.

So, if Jorginho is injured and moving Merino is off the table, what options is Arteta left with?

This may feel like a rogue suggestion, although it really shouldn’t be, but should Arteta consider using Oleksandr Zinchenko in midfield something, as noted by Andrew Mangan and Phil Costa on the Arsecast, we have ‘almost never seen’?

The Ukrainian international’s importance at Arsenal has significantly diminished this season, starting only six matches across all competitions, although he did get the nod to deputise for Martin Ødegaard as an attacking midfielder during recent home draws with PSV Eindhoven and Brentford.

Teammate Saka has previously praised Zinchenko’s “quality”, adding that “he’s an outstanding player” who “controls the game”. He was also previously described as “absolutely unbelievable” by Armand Traore upon his arrival at the Emirates.

Furthermore, Sam Dean of the Telegraph exclaims that he is a “playmaking warrior”, while James Lloyd of Breaking the Lines believes there are few better in world football when it comes to ‘ball circulation and line-breaking passes’.

Thus, despite his lack of match action, Zinchenko has to be under serious consideration to start against PSG so, given this, Arteta should certainly trail him in midfield against Ipswich on Sunday.