Arsenal legend Lee Dixon believes Gunners midfielder Thomas Partey “lost the plot” against Manchester City.
The Highbury icon was speaking on NBC Sports after Arsenal fell to a 4-1 defeat away at the Etihad Stadium.
Arsenal’s Premier League title challenge had been faltering even before they headed to the Citizens’ stomping ground.
However, City tore the Gunners apart, ensuring a third consecutive title – and fifth in six seasons – is now theirs to lose.
While Partey was far from the only Arsenal player who disappointed, his display was well short of his usual standards.
The 30-year-old couldn’t cope with Kevin De Bruyne and was ghosted past in midfield time and time again.
Partey’s frustration seemingly got the better of him late on, getting involved in an unnecessary scuffle with Jack Grealish.
Dixon was not pleased with the Ghana international’s performance against Pep Guardiola’s charges.
“Partey, he needed help,” he said on NBC Sports.
“If you’re an experienced midfield player, you should be able to work out certain things.
“But you are playing one of the world’s best teams. So it’s very difficult.
“I don’t want to be too critical of him. But he lost the plot.
“He wasn’t picking up, he was getting runners running off him. You might say he needed help.
“You might say that Arteta’s territory to say: ‘Right, Xhaka, go really tight and just plug those holes and get City to play in front of you’.
“They were just playing on the back of Partey the whole of that first half.”
Our view
It was eye-opening to see Arsenal, who have been outstanding this season, getting picked apart by City.
Likewise, it was strange to see Partey, one of the best midfielders in the league, being nullified so comprehensively.
Hopefully it won’t be too much of a blow to his confidence.
The £45million man has been superb this term, but City are arguably one of the best teams in the world right now.
Whatever happens this season, Mikel Arteta will be happy with the improvement his team has shown over the past 12 months.
At the same time, the Gunners absolutely must kick on, and that includes bolstering the midfield ranks adequately.
The post 'Lost the plot': Lee Dixon has expressed concern over £45m Arsenal player appeared first on HITC.
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