Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has insisted that “something good” is being built at the Emirates Stadium, despite the club’s current struggles.
The Gunners, who travel to Ireland to face Dundalk in their final Europa League group stage match on Thursday evening, suffered their fifth defeat in their last seven Premier League matches on Sunday, going down 2-0 to north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Goals from Son Heung-min and Harry Kane sealed a comfortable win for the home side, despite the Gunners dominating possession for long periods of the contest.
However, certainly, from an Arsenal perspective, the first half was overshadowed by Partey’s sudden departure. The Ghanaian international, after missing the club’s last four matches with a thigh injury, returned to the starting line-up for the clash with Jose Mourinho’s side, only for him to limp off the field just before half time as Spurs broke upfield for Kane to double the home side’s advantage.
Arteta pushed Partey back onto the pitch in the hope of the midfield enforcer continuing, but he was unable to, meaning it proved to be a significant moment in the contest.
Following Sunday’s full-time whistle, Arteta revealed that he planned to speak with the midfielder.
The Spaniard said: “I was trying to push him I don’t think he realized the gravity of the situation when he left his position. But probably it was because he was in a lot of pain there’s nothing we can do at the moment to resolve that.
“It was too quick, we were through I think it was a four against three situations for us to play the final ball, and we were through and suddenly they are coming to us and Thomas is walking to me, I tried to push him.
“I haven’t spoken to him, I don’t know exactly how it happened. If he felt something really serious I will look at it, and we will talk about it.”
Now, three days later, the midfielder has broken his silence on the events that unfolded at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, insisting that he hopes to be back available from injury soon and “fight for this team.”
“Being part of the Arsenal family is something incredible for me,” Partey wrote on Instagram. “Since the day I arrived, I have felt so supported.
“The coach had a great influence in my decision to join this team and even though we had some bad results, I know we are building something good together.
“I have had the bad luck to suffer an injury but I hope I can play again soon and fight for this team.”
And ahead of the trip to Dundalk, Arteta, speaking to the media on Wednesday evening, confirmed that the midfielder will miss the “next few matches.”
