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Arsenal’s Tactical Dilemma in Key Match Without Partey

The significant test for Arsenal’s manager Mikel Arteta leading into this match was determining how to adapt the lineup in light of midfielder Thomas Partey’s suspension.

At 31 years old, Partey plays an integral role in the Gunners’ midfield dynamics. His near miss of a red card in the closing moments of the quarter-final against Real Madrid forced him to sit out this crucial encounter.

With a string of injuries affecting the squad and Mikel Merino having assumed the central striker role in recent weeks, Arteta faced the challenge of reorganizing his lineup to compensate for Partey’s absence.

In response, Merino reverted to his natural midfield position, while Declan Rice transitioned deeper into the number six role, moving away from the number eight position where he had delivered standout performances against Real Madrid. Leandro Trossard was deployed as the striker in this adjusted formation.

From the kickoff, Paris Saint-Germain asserted their dominance, controlling 75% of possession within the first 15 minutes and claiming the lead early on with a goal from Ousmane Dembélé in the fourth minute.

Dembélé’s ability to find spaces behind Arsenal’s defensive line proved crucial, as he exploited gaps between the defense and midfield to score the opener for PSG.

Arteta will likely reflect on whether Partey’s presence on the pitch might have mitigated Dembélé’s influence. Would his defensive prowess have been able to intercept the ball before the French forward found the net?

Having demonstrated stellar form leading up to this match, Partey’s contributions will be vital for the Gunners as they look to overturn this setback and advance to the final next week.

Source
www.bbc.com