‘If he doesn’t play’: Merson tells Arteta to start £160,000-a-week Arsenal player v Tottenham
Paul Merson has said on Sky Sports Premier League (8pm, December 31, 2022) that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has to make sure that Thomas Partey is fit against Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United and Antonio Conte’s Tottenham Hotspur.
The Sky Sports pundit has said that if Partey does not play, then it will weaken Arsenal’s chances of winning the Premier League games against Newcastle and Tottenham in the coming days.
The former Arsenal star made the comments about the £160,000-a-week (SalarySport) Ghana international defensive midfielder while analysing Arteta’s decision to take him off in the second half of the Premier League match against Brighton and Hove Albion at the weekend.
The Gunners will take on Newcastle at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League on Tuesday evening.
Arsenal are seven points clear of second-placed and defending champions Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table at the moment.
Newcastle are challenging for a place in the top four, just like Tottenham are.
Arsenal will take on Tottenham in the North London derby on January 15.
This particular Premier League game will be played at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
PAUL MERSON ON THOMAS PARTEY FOR ARSENAL V NEWCASTLE AND TOTTENHAM
Merson said about Partey: “He is a must. That’s why he came off today. He has to be fit to play against Newcastle and Tottenham because if he doesn’t play, that will weaken Arsenal.”
