Arsenal will face Leeds United in a must-win Premier League this weekend, and they are dealing with several absent players.
The Gunners will be without Kieran Tierney, who has grown in stature in this campaign, and Cedric Soares is likely replace him. There has been much talk about how the former Celtic man would be an important absentee from the game.
This is mostly because of the threat posed by Leeds winger, Raphinha, on that left side.
Noel Whelan, however, thinks the player that would be a bigger miss for the Gunners is Thomas Partey.
The Ghanaian has struggled with injuries in this first season at the Emirates, but when he has been fit to play he has been a solid presence.
Whelan thinks he would be a bigger miss than Tierney in the game against the Whites. The former Leeds man told Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge: “Huge, massive, bigger than Tierney that. It’s going to be the same at Leeds without Kalvin, he’s that engine, that person he’s that key to stability in midfield.
“If both teams are going to be without them, it’s going to be very intriguing because I think they’re less dangerous without these players. We’re less effective, I think they’re less effective – you can’t miss a big part of the cog and feel that you’re going to be strengthened.
“There’s nowhere near you’re going to be strengthened, either side, if they’re missing Parety and Kalvin Phillips – I mean, that’d just be a great battle to watch in itself to see who comes out on top.
“You’re talking about Vardy missing for Leicester, we made that count so Partey missing is a huge part of the Arsenal team, which is why they spent that much money trying to get him because they knew how important it would be to the side.”
So, Arsenal fans, who do you think we are going to miss more? Partey or Tierney?
Since I’m one of the fans that watched Patrick Viera, I will miss Partey cuz he’s shown flashes of a Viera-like midfield dominance. Gabriel Meghales can replace Tierney very well, thereby allowing Mari 2 partner Luis, only Areta is naive, especially during team selection.
…,…Leno……..Bellerin….Luis…..Mari……Gabriel…. Elneny…..Xhaka …..Pepe..,…Odegaard,… …Saka…….Lacazette…….4, 2, 3, 1.U chose the sub’s. N/B, Tierney & Partey is injured.
Tierney will be missed both offensively and defensively. We should play Cedric at right back and Saka at left back today. Mari at CB with Holding.
Tierney will be a bigger miss. Tbh I am still waiting to see a £45M performance from Thomas “Diaby” Partey.
It has been very clear to me that when Partey came back into the side he was only operating at 85%..his thigh wasn’t completely healed and was therefore always likely to get hurt again..all of the negativity on this site regarding Partey was making me angry because I knew he was not 100% but still wanted to be out there helping his team..when he comes back fully healthy, a lot of commenters will be eating a health dose of crow
What a ridiculous comparison to make, seriously.
OT Thomas Partey missed a total of 6 games (29 days) due to injury in 6 seasons with Atletico Madrid. He has missed 10 games (36 days) due to injury in his first season with Arsenal.
For Gods sake Arsenal give Partey time to repair his injury and stop trying to rush him back or we,ll lose him for the rest of the season!
It’s the same for Tierney too.
We have enough cover! So let’s get on with it!!
WE MISS ALL TOP PLAYERS WHEN INJURED . TO TRY DECIDING WHICH WE MISS MORE THAN ANOTHER IS CHILDISH AND POINTLESS!
Positive as usual Jon.
In fact your comment is even more pointless mate
ITS MY OPINION Pat! I assume you do want opinions on JA?
AND MY COMMENT, UNLIKE YOURS, IS NOT POINTLESS.
THE POINT IS TO TRY PREVENTING DAFT SAY NOTHING ARTICLES AND TO TRY TO GET BETTER QUALITY ONES THAN THIS ARTICLE.
I’ LL BE SENDING ONE IN BY TOMORROW NIGHT THAT IS A PROPER ARTICLE AND SAYS SOMETHING,UNLIKE THIS TRIPE ONE. Trying to defend so called articles of this poor “quality” does you no favours PAT.