Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta has slammed Thomas Partey for leaving the pitch after picking up an injury during the 2-0 defeat against Tottenham.
Jose Mourinho’s men were leading by a goal when Partey picked up a knock, a failed attack from the Gunners led to a counter as the midfielder walked off, leaving Harry Kane to score from the break.
Speaking after the game, Arteta admitted his player was in the wrong to leave the pitch.
“Thomas is out, he’s limping, he’s in pain, he has to come off and we lost a man in that crucial transition moment,” Arteta told Sky Sports. “He has to fall on the floor.
“I wanted him on the pitch, doing whatever he could for the team in that situation. No one expected him not to be in that position.”
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Arteta added: “I was trying to push him back on the pitch, I don’t think he realised the gravity of the situation when he left his position.
“That was probably because he was in a lot of pain. There is nothing we can do at the moment to resolve that.”
Asked if he was frustrated or annoyed with Partey’s exit, Arteta replied: “It was too quick, we were through, I think it was a four-against-three situation for us to play the final ball and we were through. Suddenly they were coming to us and Thomas is walking to me and I am trying to push him.
“I haven’t spoken to him. I don’t know exactly how it happened and if he felt something really serious. I will look at it and we will talk about it.”
