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Thomas Partey’s return to Arsenal’s starting lineup was short-lived Sunday afternoon.
After missing four games in all competitions with a thigh problem suffered in a 3-0 home loss to Aston Villa before the international break, the £ 45m summer transfer from Atlético Madrid made his comeback against Tottenham Hotspur.
Paired in midfield with Granit Xhaka, the Ghana international was one of Arsenal’s best players during the 2-0 defeat at the North London Derby.
However, it only lasted 45 minutes and what he did before limping off turned out to be an important topic of conversation.
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With the Gunners on the attack looking for a draw before the break, Hector Bellerin’s pass attempt to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was cut off in the Spurs penalty area.
And when the visitors gave up possession, they were exposed to a counterattack.
Giovani Lo Celso was allowed to carry the ball forward as space opened for him, then he played on Son Heung-min, who then slid into Harry Kane to smash the ball to Bernd Leno at his first post.
Upon closer inspection of the goal, the reason the Spurs held a 5-on-2 lead was because Partey had limped towards the touchline after appearing to suffer a recurrence of his thigh injury.
The midfielder was pushed back onto the field by coach Mikel Arteta, but it was clear that he could not continue and that proved to be a watershed moment for both teams.
At her post-match press conference, Arteta gave her take on the situation and revealed that she plans to speak to Partey about her actions.
“I was trying to pressure him. I don’t think he realized how serious the situation was when he left his post,” said the Spaniard. “But it was probably because she was in a lot of pain, there is nothing we can do right now to resolve that.
“It was too fast, we finished. I think it was a four-on-three situation so we could play the last ball and we passed and suddenly they came towards us and Thomas walks towards me. I tried to push him.
“I haven’t talked to him, I don’t know exactly how it happened. If he felt something really serious I’ll look at it and we’ll talk about it.
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Partey has spoken for the first time since he suffered the injury and Arteta’s comments.
However, it is not to talk about his injury or the defeat of Tottenham.
Rather, it has been to talk about the general elections in his homeland, Ghana.
“Wishing the people of my homeland Ghana a peaceful election today,” Partey wrote on his Instagram. “Let’s make sure to protect our peace before, during and after the general elections.
“We are a people. A Ghana.”
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