Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta should not play Thomas Partey against Liverpool tomorrow, according to Kevin Campbell.
The Gunners are gearing up for a huge trip to Jurgen Klopp’s side at Anfield.
Liverpool will be big favourites but with Arsenal unbeaten since August in all competitions, victory wouldn’t be that big of a surprise.
According to Charles Watts of Goal, the North Londoners are hopeful of being able to call on Partey to start in midfield.
The 28-year-old, who earns £200,000 per week at the Emirates, did not report for international duty with Ghana due to injury.
And Campbell feels that with Partey’s injury record since joining in 2020, Arteta should err on the side of caution before sticking him in the first XI so soon after recovering.
He told Curtis Shaw TV: “Don’t play him. Keep him on the bench so we can bring him on in the second half or something.
“I don’t want to risk him. I know it’s a massive game. He’s not played. There’s many games coming up and what we don’t want to do is take a risk.”
Excellent point
Campbell is making a lot of sense and really, Arteta shouldn’t play him unless he’s 100 percent fit – and the manager is 100 percent sure that he won’t break down after 20 odd minutes.
With the festive season looming and Granit Xhaka already absent, Arsenal cannot afford to lose a midfielder like Partey for the hectic schedule in December.
Arteta’s side are flying these days and sit two points adrift of fourth spot, which will be their goal come May.
And it just isn’t worth risking injury to someone like Partey to use him in a game that, let’s be honest, Arsenal may lose regardless of who plays
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