The mood in the Arsenal camp is anything but calm following their disheartening Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. The loss has clearly left a mark, and the aftermath is being felt not just in headlines, but in the tone of the players themselves. In a no-holds-barred press conference, Thomas Partey, known more for his quiet leadership than for locker room drama, laid bare his frustration — and he didn’t pull punches.
Speaking with raw honesty, Partey opened up about his personal disappointment with a fellow teammate’s showing during the match. He made it known that he had counted on this particular player to shoulder some of the pressure and, in a sense, protect him from being thrown under the bus by fans and critics alike. Instead, that trust was broken when the lights were at their brightest.
“I needed him to show up,” Partey admitted, not trying to hide the sting of betrayal. “I expected more, hoped he’d cover my back, and give the fans something to believe in. But he just didn’t deliver.” There was no attempt to sugar-coat things. The midfielder looked like a man who had reached his limit with excuses and mediocrity.
When journalists asked him to name the teammate in question, Partey didn’t dodge. Many expected a name like Declan Rice or Martin Ødegaard, both of whom had significant roles in the match. But Partey surprised everyone when he pointed the finger elsewhere. He didn’t hesitate, and the room braced for impact.
“It was Eddie Nketiah,” Partey declared, his tone unflinching. “This was supposed to be his time to answer his critics, to rise above the noise. Instead, he faded. If this pressure is too much, maybe he needs a league where it’s easier — Saudi Arabia or something.” The jab landed hard, cutting through the room like a cold gust of wind.
The media room immediately buzzed with shock, reporters murmuring at the midfielder’s candor. Nketiah, who had started the game but barely registered on the pitch, has been a magnet for criticism in recent months. His inability to consistently finish chances has left many wondering if he’s truly cut out for the top level — and now, it seems, even his own teammates are questioning it.
These comments from Partey are being seen as a sign of deeper fractures within the team. Arsenal, once full of promise and potential this season, now appear to be a squad under internal stress, fraying at the edges. Their dreams of silverware have withered, and the players’ frustrations are now bubbling to the surface in public view.
When asked about Partey’s remarks, manager Mikel Arteta looked deeply uncomfortable, choosing his words carefully to avoid fanning the flames. “We win together and we lose together,” he said flatly. But his eyes said more — the kind of look that suggests he knows there’s trouble behind the scenes, and that holding the dressing room together may now be his hardest task.
Now, with their European journey cut short and criticism piling up like bricks on a crumbling wall, the spotlight turns sharply to Nketiah. Will he fight to prove he belongs in North London, or will he heed Partey’s unsparing advice and seek a quieter stage where the pressure doesn’t bite so hard?
Leave a Reply