Arsenal legend Ian Wright has voiced his disapproval of Mikel Arteta’s decision to deploy Thomas Partey at right-back, following the team’s disappointing 2-2 draw against Aston Villa on Saturday.

With injuries ravaging Arsenal’s defensive options, Arteta has been forced to experiment, placing the Ghanaian midfielder in an unfamiliar defensive role. While Partey managed to perform admirably in previous outings, his errors against Aston Villa proved costly.

The Gunners looked poised for victory after Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz fired them into a 2-0 lead. However, a resilient Villa side clawed their way back into the game, with Youri Tielemans reducing the deficit before Ollie Watkins capitalized on a defensive lapse from Partey to equalize.

Speaking on Premier League Productions, Ian Wright expressed his frustration, stating, “With the players available, I think Thomas Partey should not be playing in defense. He is a midfielder, and that is where he should be playing.”

The draw leaves Arsenal six points adrift of league leaders Liverpool, who secured a 2-0 win over Brentford and still have a game in hand. The Gunners will look to bounce back in the Champions League against Dinamo Zagreb before a tricky Premier League fixture away to Wolves.