Arsenal star CALLED OUT over Aston Villa error: That can’t win you league titles!

Robin Bairner

Updated: 18 Jan 2025 21:58 GMT
2 min read

Arsenal star Thomas Partey has been called out a crucial error during the Gunners’ 2-2 draw with Aston Villa – a result that sees Mikel Arteta’s side lose more valuable ground on Liverpool in the Premier League title race.

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Holding a 2-0 lead in the second half, Villa fought their way back into the game via a Youri Tielemans header, yet it was Partey’s slopped defending to allow Ollie Watkins to level the game that has been slammed.

Sky Sports pundit Paul Mersen even claimed that the Ghana international’s mistake could be the one that ultimately costs Arsenal the title.

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Thomas Partey

DM, M (C), D (R)

Arsenal

Thomas Partey

DM, M (C), D (R)

Arsenal

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€3.3M - €5.5M

Analysing the goal, he said: “Partey gets set, he drops back in, then he just leaves him. I mean, he’s played for one of the most disciplined defensive teams in Europe at Atletico Madrid. He’s a holding midfielder, a defensive midfield player. He should see the danger. You cannot do that. That can’t win you league titles. It’s phenomenal what he’s done.

“I can understand if it was just a young kid who’s got in the team but this man has played for Atletico Madrid – one of the most disciplined teams in the whole of Europe. That’s his game. Discipline. And he’s just gone and done that.”

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Partey’s last chance at Arsenal?

This season is set to be Partey’s last chance to win a league title with Arsenal. He is out of contact at the end of the campaign and FootballTransfers has exclusively revealed that Arteta’s side are seeking to replace him with Sunderland youngster Jobe Bellingham.

Partey does have a one-year contract extension on the table at the Emirates Stadium, but moments like the one he had against Aston Villa will leave Arsenal considering whether they really want to retain him beyond the end of his current deal.

Arteta’s planned midfield overhaul could be speeded up thanks to that potentially costly error, which has seen Liverpool stretch their Premier League lead to six points with a game in hand.