"Sell the fraud", "We have ruined his body" - Arsenal fans want 30-year-old star sold as he's left out of squad to face Sevilla in UCL fixture
Arsenal fans want Thomas Partey to be sold in the January transfer window after he was omitted from the matchday squad to face Sevilla in the UEFA Champions League (UCL).
The Gunners will lock horns with the 2022-23 UEFA Europa League winners at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan later today (October 24). They will be aiming to bounce back in the UCL after suffering a shock 2-1 away loss against Lens in their last fixture.
David Raya starts in goal for Arsenal. Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Takehiro Tomiyasu make up the defense. The midfield consists of Jorginho, Declan Rice, and Martin Odegaard. Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Gabriel Jesus start in attack to complete Mikel Arteta's starting XI.
Thomas Partey misses the clash against Sevilla due to a muscle injury. The 30-year-old midfielder has only made five appearances across all competitions after picking up a serious groin injury in August that kept him sidelined for six games.
Many Arsenal fans have lost patience with the midfielder though and want him sold in the upcoming transfer window. One fan posted on X (formerly Twitter):
"Sell the fraud"
Another fan posted:
"We have ruined his body"
"I was tweeting partey should have been cashed in on in the summmer and afc fans coming up with reasons we need him and slandering me. The guy is hardly available."
Here are some more reactions from fans on X:
Mikel Arteta and Co. are currently second in Group B of the Champions League with three points from two games, one point behind Lens.
Arsenal legend Ian Wright names one player that has struggled since Granit Xhaka exit
Arsenal icon Ian Wright believes Oleksandr Zinchenko has struggled for form this season due to Granit Xhaka's exit from the Emirates during the summer transfer window.
Xhaka played an integral role in Arsenal challenging Manchester City for the Premier League title last season, scoring nine goals and providing seven assists in 47 appearances across all competitions. But he made the surprising decision to leave the club to join Bayer Leverkusen over the summer.
Zinchenko lost the great connection he had with Xhaka down the left flank, which Wright has noticed this season. He said (via Football London):
"Again, Zinchenko without Xhaka and what Xhaka done for us, it’s not the same role. He doesn’t seem to be able to do it without the way Xhaka was playing and giving him that license."
Zinchenko has made 11 appearances in total this season but is yet to register a goal contribution.