Arsenal have suffered a setback following their progression to the Champions League semi-finals, as Thomas Partey will miss the first leg against Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the month.
Partey was an injury doubt for the second leg with Real Madrid this evening, which Arsenal won 2-1, sealing a 5-1 aggregate success for the Gunners.
The Ghanaian midfielder got over those concerns to start at the Santiago Bernabeu, and played the 90 minutes, as Mikel Arteta's side booked their place in the semi-finals, becoming the first Arsenal side to manage that since 2009.
However, Arsenal will have to face PSG without their important midfielder, after his caution late on in Madrid.
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Partey suspended for semi-final first leg
A moment of madness will see Arsenal lose Partey for the first leg at the end of April, as he got involved in a minor scuffle with Dani Ceballos when trying to retrieve the ball for a free kick, and ultimately ended in him receiving a yellow card.
Fellow midfielder Declan Rice was visibly furious with Arsenal's number five for his actions and the consequences it could have for that tie against PSG.
Arsenal are already short on options in that area of the pitch, with Jorginho sidelined due to injury and Mikel Merino needed further forward to fill the gap in attack caused by setbacks to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.
It is likely Merino will have to move back into a more familiar midfield role with no other options available, so Arteta will therefore need to decide between Leandro Trossard, Ethan Nwaneri or Raheem Sterling to start in a central striking role for the first leg.
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Close call for Rice
Arsenal also had a close scare regarding Rice's availability for the first leg against PSG, because he was initially given a yellow card that would have ruled him out of the match.
That came when he was penalised for holding Kylian Mbappe in the area, but referee Francois Letexier overturned his on-field decision of penalty, and in the process, wiped out Rice's booking.
From the semi-final stage onwards, yellow cards are wiped, so there will be a fresh slate from here on out, meaning players will not be running the risk of suspension ahead of a potential final, as was the case in years gone by.
It is not just Rice who can now breathe easier either, because Jurrien Timber and Gabriel Martinelli were also one booking away from a ban, but will see that wiped from the semi-finals onwards.
Andrew Delaney
