Partey's uninspiring performance against Villarreal criticised

Black Stars deputy captain Thomas Partey was criticised on Thursday after he failed to live up to the billing in Arsenal’s most important game of the season.

The Gunners were held to a goalless stalemate by Villarreal at Emirates stadium. A disappointing result which ended Arsenal’s Europa League hopes.

They needed just one goal to reach the final after being beaten 2-1 in the first leg in Spain.

Partey, signed for a whopping 50 million euros from Atletico Madrid, delivered an uninspiring performance on the night and he was spared by fans and pundits.

Arsenal legend Martin Keown, on BT Sport, said “We thought we were signing the next Patrick Vieira [in Thomas Partey] but he hasn’t looked like that at all.

“We made a mistake, we should have had two midfield players side by side. We didn’t have the right balance in that midfield.

On Twitter, Partey was rebuked by Arsenal fans while rival fans trolled him.

Thomas Partey looked good in a heavily defensive Atletico team, in a slow league. Looks miles out of his depth for Arsenal
— Sam – football is back (@CFCSam47) May 7, 2021

Had a nightmare that we went out of the Europa League to a team managed by Unai Emery and Francis Coquelin outclassed Thomas Partey
— Cian (@cian_afc) May 7, 2021

Thomas Partey went from dropping 10/10s in UCL to UEL to No Europe at all in a space of 14 months 😭😭
— RSingh (@Cazorla_Esque) May 7, 2021

i think the problem at arsenal except kroenke is the incosistancy the whole team has the only consistant player they have is thomas partey and i think he has been their best player this season unlike auba and lacca even ceballos they can have a worldie and the next day be shit
— Alex_Monax (@AlexMonax4) May 7, 2021

Do spare a thought for everyone who had their Thomas Partey and Gdansk puns ready…
— Euan McTear (@emctear) May 6, 2021

Remember when oans were comparing Thomas Partey to Vieira 😂😂😂😂 that day I’ve never seen players get hyped up so much to that extent
— Charles (@CharlesFromAfar) May 6, 2021