Fearless Partey preaches belief ahead of Real return
EUROPEAN FOCUS: The first leg victory was a statement of intent from the Gunners to the entirety of Europe that Arsenal are back, and in a big way too. In what will be the biggest game in most of the lives of this group of players, Partey is adamant the only mindset to have is one hungry for victory.
Mikel Arteta has said Thomas Partey is a doubt for Arsenal's Champions League quarter-final second leg against Real Madrid after suffering an injury during their 1-1 draw with Brentford.
Having gone ahead in the 60th minute after Partey finished a ruthless counterattack, the Bees struck back with 15 minutes remaining through Yoane Wissa to secure a draw. The result leaves Arsenal's title hopes in tatters.
Now, all eyes turn to the Champions League, and the job of defending their 3-0 lead against Madrid at the one place where miracles can happen in world football, the Santiago Bernabeu. Arteta chose to rest the likes of Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber, but the inclusions of two-goal hero Declan Rice, William Saliba and Partey raised eyebrows, with the Ghanian now a doubt for the second leg after pulling up midway through the second half.
Arteta was coy on the extent of the midfielder's injury, "he felt something so we didn't want to take any risks," the Spaniard said.
"I haven't spoken to the doctors yet. So they will check him now and see how he is."
Speaking after the game, Partey, who is one of only a couple of players in the current squad to have played at the Bernabeu having played for city rivals Atletico Madrid, believes confidence is key to getting the result against Real.
"It's very difficult," Partey said. "It's not going to be easy, we know how good they are and the quality they have from back to front so as I said we have to be confident to play our game and try to win.
"I think every stadium is intimidating when you are not at your best, but we have to go there with the confidence and stay in our game, we know what we have to do we are going to be prepared and try to win.
"I don't think it's tricky as I said if we have confidence in our game."
Partey's injury adds to the woes that the north Londoners have had all campaign with player fitness, with Wednesday night now a season-defining moment for the Spaniard and the Arsenal project.
The first-leg victory was a statement of intent from the Gunners. In what will be the biggest game in most of the lives of this group of players, Partey is adamant the only mindset to have is one hungry for victory.
"I think it's going to be one of the biggest games with the situation and the mentality and the need we have. I think we have to be confident, we have to go there and play our game and try to win.
"With all the circumstances that we have faced in most of our games and then we have to adapt levels. I am really happy with the team. I think any time we play our game we are the best team in the world.
Raya 6; Partey (Timber, 69') 8, Saliba 6, Kiwior 6, Tierney (Lewis-Skelly, 63') 5; Jorginho 5, Zinchenko (Odegaard, 63') 6, Rice (Merino, 75') 7; Nwaneri (Saka, 63') 5, Trossard 6, Martinelli 6.
: Neto, Henry-Francis, Sterling, Butler-Oyedeji.
Flekken 5; Ajer (Kayode, 69') 6, Collins 6, van den Berg 6, Lewis-Potter 7; Norgaard (Nunes, 90+1') 7, Janelt (Yarmoliuk, 69') 5, Damsgaard (Jensen, 80') 6; Schade 5, Wissa 7, Mbeumo 6.
Valdimarsson, Henry, Pinnock, Mee, Jensen, Konak.
: Simon Hooper - 6
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