Following their 1-0 defeat to Newcastle in the Premier League, Arsenal fans are demanding that coach Mikel Arteta end the right-back experiment with Thomas Partey and play the Ghanaian in his favorite role.

Injuries and suspensions to some of Arsenal’s defenders have seen Thomas Partey deployed in an unfavorable right-back role.

In games against Bournemouth, Liverpool, and Newcastle, Mikel Arteta deployed the Ghanaian midfielder on the right of the Arsenal defense.

While Partey has distinguished himself in the position, there are concerns about the inability of his replacements in midfield to produce performances like he does.

In the game against Newcastle, the Gunners lacked the control and transitioning prowess Partey gives them, with Declan Rice and Mikel Merino unable to have the same effect on the team.

Following the defeat on Saturday, November 2, 2024, Arsenal fans on social media have been clamoring for the return of Thomas Partey to midfield, with most fans believing that his presence in midfield will help Arsenal rediscover their form.

Meanwhile, Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta has hailed Partey for his performance against Newcastle despite the defeat.

"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," he said after the game.

Highest performing midfielders in the Premier League so far this season 🎯

🇪🇨🥇 Moisés Caicedo (Chelsea, 23) — 84
🇳🇱🥈 Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool, 22) — 83
🇬🇭🥉 Thomas Partey (Arsenal, 31) — 80
🇵🇹🥉 Bruno Fernandes (Man United, 30) — 80
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🥉 James Maddison (Tottenham, 27) —… pic.twitter.com/88TwtLOGQz

— DataMB (@DataMB_) November 4, 2024

Pick one of Partey and Merino to partner Rice and play White at RB. Bench Trossard. Thanks @Arsenal

— M (@MKTIRB) November 5, 2024

“Partey has been our best player” and we’ve been the worst we’ve locked in 2 seasons. coincidence?

— one (@ONE_AMN) November 4, 2024

This Partey at RB experiment needs to stop. Ffs !
We can’t keep riding our luck….
It worked against Liverpool doesn’t mean it will work against Newcastle. https://t.co/a4XuzgcJLI

— - Charlie of Umunna - (@CharlieCaker) November 2, 2024

Arteta and his nonsense experiments...
So White was fit all along, and he chose to start with Partey at RB??

Wow! Just wow!!!!#NEWARS #TheArsenal

— Vivian (@ThatArsenalLady) November 2, 2024

Arteta is doing unnecessary experiment, Partey is our most important player in the middle and then you at him Right back while the midfied stinks

— Captain Waris (@Captain_Waris) November 2, 2024

ZERO Clean sheets in 6 premier league games in a row. Yeah, we need to wake up. Take Thomas Partey back to midfield. Wrap up the RB experiment.

— WelBeast (@WelBeast) November 2, 2024

Arteta does experiments with an otherwise capable team that can deliver the EPL. How do you play Partey RB (keep Ben White in the dugout), maintain Martinelli, play Trossard as your NO 10, gamble with unfit Saka and expect an a positive result?

— Ayub Sh Abdikadir (@AyubAbdikadir) November 2, 2024