PARTEY OVER
Thomas Partey sent off just 15 minutes after coming off bench as Arsenal star crashes out of two tournaments in TWO DAYS
THOMAS PARTEY took a seven-hour flight to play in Arsenal's Carabao Cup clash with Liverpool... to be sent off after FIFTEEN minutes.
The midfielder, 28, was brought on as a late substitute at the Emirates but lasted just a quarter of an hour thanks to two clumsy fouls.
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Partey received two yellow cards - the second for a tired, late foul on Fabinho with Arsenal trailing 2-0.
And the dismissal capped a miserable week for the Ghanaian, coming just two days after he was dumped out of the African Nations Cup.
The continental heavyweights were embarrassed 3-2 by minnows Comoros to finish bottom of their group.
Partey woke up in Cameroon on Thursday morning and landed in London just seven hours before kick-off, telling boss MIkel Arteta he was fine to take a spot on the bench amid the Gunners' squad problems.
Unfortunately Partey was rewarded with an early bath and second cup exit in this week as Liverpool ran out 2-0 winners.
And his actions only created a further headache for Arteta, with Partey now banned for Sunday's clash against Burnley.
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The Spanish boss, however, defended his decision to play his £45million man.
He said: "I do not regret, but I cannot use him now. It is what it is,.
"He made the effort to come, we had to play him.
‘Emile [Smith Rowe] has not had one single training session, Martin [Odegaard] as well, Laca [Alexandre Lacazette] had a yellow card.
"We had to make a decision and we decided to use him and unfortunately that happened."
Asked on Sky Sports whether fatigue played a part in the red card, Arteta said: "I don’t think so."
Before the game, Arteta had praised Partey for his committment.
He said: "He (Partey) showed his commitment.
"He is really disappointed to get [knocked] out of the Afcon, but straight away, he said, ‘I want to be involved’.
"He landed at midday and went straight to the hotel - he wants to be there on the bench to help.”
Incredibly, the red card was Arsenal's THIRD this month - meaning they have seen three times as many sendings off as goals in 2022.
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