Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson has sharply critiqued Thomas Partey for his lacklustre defensive effort during Aston Villa's equalising goal in their recent Premier League encounter at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal initially appeared to be in control, establishing a 2-0 lead and fuelling hopes of narrowing the gap on league leaders Liverpool. However, Unai Emery's Aston Villa staged a remarkable comeback, scoring twice to secure a 2-2 draw.
The first goal for Villa came courtesy of Youri Tielemans, who expertly headed the ball past Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya, reducing the deficit to 2-1. Moments later, Ollie Watkins capitalised on a rebound from the crossbar, sending the visiting supporters into a frenzy as he levelled the score.
In his post-match analysis on Sky Sports, Merson did not mince words regarding Partey’s performance, particularly his failure to effectively track Watkins. The build-up to Villa's equaliser featured Matty Cash delivering a precise left-footed cross from the right, allowing Watkins to evade his marker and volley the ball into the net.
Merson's incredulity was palpable as he remarked, “It's Partey, it's Partey,” while dissecting the events leading to the goal. He elaborated, “It gets cleared out. Partey gets set, he drops back in, he's got his man. Then he just leaves him.”
He further expressed his concerns, stating, “I mean, he has played for one of the most disciplined defensive teams in Europe in Atletico Madrid. He's a defensive midfield player. He should see danger; he has played that.” Merson insisted, "He gets back in, that's his man. You cannot do that. That can't win you league titles. It's phenomenal what he's done. He's just got to pick his man up. You're in a league title race. My man does not score. You take responsibility. He leaves him. You won't see a worse defensive goal than that all weekend."
Merson’s comments serve as a crucial reminder of the importance of individual accountability, particularly in the context of a title race. For teams aspiring to challenge for the Premier League crown, the defensive responsibilities of every player are paramount. As Aston Villa demonstrated, even the most promising leads can evaporate if defensive lapses go unchecked.