Arsenal fans blast Mikel Arteta over reports Partey might not be fit to face Real Madrid
Some Arsenal supporters have lambasted their head coach, Mikel Arteta, over reports that Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey might not be fit enough to play against Real Madrid in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League on April 16, 2025.
During Arsenal’s Premier League match against Brentford on April 12, 2025, Partey scored but was unfortunately equalized in the second half, resulting in a 1-1 draw.
In the course of the match, Partey was substituted, and manager Arteta confirmed that the player suffered a minor injury that would be examined by the medics.
“He felt something, so we didn’t want to take any risks,” he told reporters after the game.
This sparked outrage among Arsenal fans on social media, who were livid that the coach allowed the midfielder to play for so long before a crucial game against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.
They argued that Partey was one of the best players who controlled the midfield in the first leg, which Arsenal won convincingly 3-0 at the Emirates on April 8, 2025.
They called on the team’s medical team and Arteta to ensure the midfielder recovers in time to play the second leg against Madrid; otherwise, they would blame the coach if the team get eliminated from the tournament.
Read some of the reactions below:
