Renowned British journalist and broadcaster Henry Winter has attributed Arsenal’s narrow defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg to the absence of midfielder Thomas Partey.
The Ghanaian international missed Tuesday night’s high-stakes clash at the Emirates Stadium after accumulating two yellow cards during Arsenal’s quarter-final encounter with Real Madrid, resulting in a one-match suspension.
Without Partey anchoring the midfield, the Gunners struggled to maintain control and rhythm. Their vulnerability was exposed early on, as PSG’s Ousmane Dembélé netted the only goal of the match just four minutes in—giving the French side a 1-0 advantage heading into the return leg.
Sharing his views on Sky Sports after the game, Winter was candid in his criticism of Partey’s costly suspension. “Thomas Partey foolishly cost Arsenal against PSG. The team missed him,” he remarked. “His yellow card was just unnecessary, and his absence cost the team against PSG.”
Despite the setback, Winter expressed hope for Arsenal’s chances in the second leg, emphasizing that Partey’s return could make a critical difference as Mikel Arteta’s side looks to overturn the deficit and reach the final.
