Black Stars midfielder, Thomas Partey
GhanaWeb Feature by Benjamin Sackey
The uncertain status of Black Stars midfielder Thomas Partey as Arsenal prepare to face Real Madrid in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League on April 16, 2025, has raised significant concerns about the club’s chances.
The Gunners convincingly defeated Madrid 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium on April 8, 2025, with Partey playing an integral role in the game, providing midfield balance.
Although Declan Rice, who scored a brace with free kicks, was awarded the Man of the Match award, many pundits believe Partey deserved the accolade, considering his exploits in the midfield.
After scoring a goal in Arsenal’s 1-1 draw against Brentford in the Premier League on April 12, 2025, manager Mikel Arteta said Partey was substituted due to discomfort that is yet to be assessed by the club.
“He felt something, so we didn’t want to take any risks,” he told reporters after the game.
This implies that Partey might miss the second leg against Madrid if he doesn’t recover quickly.
Check out Partey’s impressive statistics against Real Madrid in the first leg:
• Second-most touches (76)
• Second-most passes (76)
• Second-most accurate passes (61)
• Second-most dribbles (3)
• Second-most duels won (3)
• Won possession back six times
• Attempted three tackles
These statistics demonstrate how Partey controlled the midfield against Madrid’s Luka Modric, Jude Bellingham, and Eduardo Camavinga.
Reports indicate that if the Ghanaian midfielder is unavailable, Mikel Merino is likely to replace him and partner with Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard.
The team will miss Partey’s defensive stability, control, passing and ability to win back possession, which will significantly impact the game.
Madrid’s midfield, likely to feature Bellingham, Tchouameni, and Dani Ceballos, could overpower Arsenal if Partey is absent.
Arsenal must protect their three-goal lead, and Partey’s aggressiveness and defensive versatility will be crucial to their success.
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