Arsenal midfielder dropped from national squad after ‘confidential’ talks | OneFootball

Arsenal’s Thomas Partey has been left out of Ghana manager Otto Addo’s latest squad selection, despite being available for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Partey was reportedly keen to participate, but during the squad announcement, Addo cited ‘confidential discussions’ as the reason behind Partey’s exclusion.

AL RAYYAN, QATAR – NOVEMBER 28: Guesung Cho of Korea Republic competes for a header against Thomas Partey of Ghana during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group H match between Korea Republic and Ghana at Education City Stadium on November 28, 2022 in Al Rayyan, Qatar. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

Speaking to reporters, Addo explained: “I had a confidential talk with Thomas. I always like to protect my players, and so I hope for your understanding. The team is like family, and I won’t come out with internal issues, but I made it clear why he is not here.”

Partey, Ghana’s vice-captain, is expected to remain absent for the upcoming matches against Angola and Niger. The squad’s omission of a senior figure like Partey—who has been integral to the national side since his debut in 2016—comes at a crucial time, with Ghana struggling to keep their qualification hopes alive.

Currently, they sit third in their group, trailing Sudan by five points with only two games left to play.

LONDON, ENGLAND: Thomas Partey of Arsenal looks on during the pre-season friendly match between Arsenal and Olympique Lyonnais at Emirates Stadium on August 11, 2024. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Addo also hinted that the door is not closed for Partey’s return. “This is not a permanent thing. We had a good talk, and we are on good terms. I hope Thomas will do better in the areas we discussed, and maybe he will join us in March.”

In Partey’s absence, Jordan Ayew has been named captain for the qualifiers.

Ghana’s poor form has left the four-time champions on the brink of missing out on the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 2004.

Partey, however, has continued to feature prominently for Arsenal this season, appearing in 15 matches across all competitions. Despite his exclusion from the national team setup, he remains a trusted figure for Arteta, even deputising at right-back when required.