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Theo Walcott has spotted a problem for Arsenal ahead of facing PSG in the Champions League
After beating Real Madrid 5-1 over two legs, Arsenal will already be preparing to face French champions Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals.
PSG have knocked both Liverpool and Aston Villa out of the competition this season and they’ll be looking to add Arsenal to their Premier League list.
Of course, Arsenal have just taken a major scalp themselves, eliminating the Champions League’s current holders with relative ease.
Spain’s media were amazed by Myles Lewis-Skelly and several other members of Mikel Arteta’s squad, one that could definitely go all the way.
However, there was one unfortunate sour note on such a brilliant night for Arsenal in the Spanish capital – Thomas Partey’s yellow card.
Theo Walcott is concerned about Thomas Partey’s suspension
In the 85th minute in Spain, Declan Rice could be seen berating Partey for collecting a needless yellow, one that means he will be suspended against PSG for Arsenal’s first leg.
Speaking on coverage of Arsenal’s win on Wednesday evening, former Gunner Theo Walcott spoke about Partey’s absence at the Emirates in just under two weeks’ time.
Firstly looking forward to the tie as a whole, Walcott said: “Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain are definitely the two best teams in this season’s Champions League, and the semi-final is going to be a completely different story to when Mikel Arteta’s side beat them 2-0 at the Emirates in October.
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“PSG hadn’t really clicked then, but they have now. Arsenal will be ready for them, but I think they might miss Thomas Partey, who is suspended after his yellow card tonight.
“He was so important at the Bernabeu, not just with the way he was getting back into the back-line and to help out with the amount of crosses he was dealing with tonight.
“Partey was also helping Arsenal to slow the ball down and to control the midfield. The PSG game is all going to be about the midfield for me and Declan Rice is now probably going to play a game with someone who he is less familiar with.
“Mikel Merino can drop in there, but that might affect the forward line more because of where he has been playing recently.
“This is what Mikel Arteta will be thinking about now, and he might tinker with a few things against Ipswich and Crystal Palace, to try things out before the semi-final.”
Who will replace Thomas Partey against PSG?
It’s a difficult problem for Arteta to solve – Partey bossed Madrid’s midfield over two legs.
Of course, Rice was brilliant against Madrid over the whole tie himself, and it would be a shame if Arteta had to revert the Englishman into the number six role.
Perhaps the most obvious solution would be to deploy Jorginho into the middle, providing that he is fit for the tie.
The Italian picked up an injury against Brentford and it’s currently unclear when he will return.
Lewis-Skelly excelled against Madrid too and perhaps he could move into midfield, but his presence would be sorely missed at left-back.