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Arsenal handed fresh suspension problem for PSG UEFA Champions League

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has something of a selection dilemma for the PSG clash

Thomas Partey is the only player suspended for the Arsenal vs Paris Saint-Germain tie

There has been plenty of talk around UEFA’s suspension guidelines ahead of the Champions League semi-finals.

Arsenal will have to do without midfielder Thomas Partey for the first leg of their semi-final clash with Paris Saint-Germain, after the Ghanaian was booked in the quarter-final second leg against Real Madrid.

Teammate Declan Rice was visibly frustrated with Partey, knowing what his yellow card against Los Blancos meant. Partey was booked for a pointless altercation with former Gunners loanee Dani Ceballos five minutes from time to rule him out of the first leg of the semi-final.

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There was plenty of uproar around the suspension, given UEFA’s rules.

Article 52.04 states: “All yellow cards expire on completion of the quarter-finals. They are not carried forward to the semi-finals.”

That got some supporters thinking Partey would escape a ban, but that is not the case because the midfielder picked up his third booking – which leads to a suspension in the competition – prior to the completion of the quarter-finals. Therefore he is banned for the first leg of the semi-final.

That will hand Mikel Arteta a dilemma in the middle of the park and the Arsenal boss was handed another problem when it came to Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace.

In the Premier League game with Ipswich Town at the weekend, Mikel Merino was dropped back into his favoured midfield position. The Spaniard had been filling in as an auxiliary striker in the absence of Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.

But, with Partey suspended against PSG, Arteta decided to try a different approach up top against the Tractor Boys, with Leandro Trossard in the middle of the front three and he impressed with two goals in the 4-0 win.

Arteta was likely going back to playing Merino in the midfield to be able to utilise him there against PSG in the first leg in Partey’s absence.

However, that trial may now be worthless, with Merino missing the game against Palace on Wednesday. Arteta did not offer any more than the fact Merino was “not able to be in the squad” and there will be concerns over his availability for the big clash with PSG now.