Paul Merson has told Sky Sports that Arsenal are missing Thomas Partey in midfield.
The Ghana international hasn’t been seen in a Gunners shirt since the 3-0 defeat by Aston Villa before the international break.
Partey came off injured at half-time on that occasion and has missed Arsenal’s last two games, as well as international duty with his country.
No date has been mentioned with regards to a return and according to The Mirror, he’s a ‘major doubt’ for the visit of Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday.
Mikel Arteta’s side were only 1-0 behind when Partey went off injured against Villa, and the Spanish coach needed his stature against Leeds who continuously set up chances at Elland Road last Sunday.
And Merson reckons that Arsenal need their new £45 million powerhouse – who joined from Atletico Madrid last month – back as soon as possible.
He told Sky Sports: “They are not dominant at the back. Thomas Partey is a good player and they have missed him – he should make a difference when he’s back.”
Nine games into the new campaign and Arsenal – who sit 12th in the Premier League table – are pretty much a mid-table side right now.
And honestly, their issues extend beyond Partey because Arteta’s side have only scored nine goals this season – and he isn’t exactly a number 10.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette haven’t been firing on all cylinders, so it would be a tad disingenous to believe that Partey’s return will magically fix Arsenal because, well, it won’t.
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