Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has revealed that Thomas Partey was only back in the UK for a matter of hours ahead of being named on the bench against Liverpool.
The Ghanaian was among the substitutes for the Gunners as they hosted the Reds on Thursday evening, that decision coming just 48 hours after his nation Ghana had been knocked out of the African Cup of Nations in the group stages.
It was certainly not expected that the midfielder would play any part at all at the Emirates Stadium, with a return in Arsenal’s Premier League clash against Burnley looking far more likely.
