"I didn't have an impression he struggled"- Mikel Arteta explains Thomas Partey's right-back role against Newcastle

Ghanaian

Arsenal's manager, Mikel Arteta, has dismissed suggestions that Thomas Partey had difficulties playing as a right-back in their recent Premier League loss to Newcastle United.

The Ghanaian midfielder has taken on a defensive role in the last two matches, during which the team has only managed to secure one point.

Arteta praised Partey's performance, explaining that the

Read full articledecision to utilize him in defense was due to a lack of available right-backs.

He stated, "I’ll need to make that assessment once I have more clarity about where he struggled, but I don’t have the impression he struggled much.

Every time we have that situation with Thomas playing a different position because we don’t have another right-back at the moment.

We’re always going to have that debate and Thomas is fantastic." Following the defeat, Arsenal has fallen from third to fifth place in the league standings.

Partey is anticipated to feature in the upcoming UEFA Champions League match against Inter Milan, as well as in the London derby against Chelsea later in the week.