Mikel Arteta defends ill-fated decision to play Thomas Partey in Arsenal loss to Liverpool

Thomas Partey was shown a red card late in the game (Picture: Getty Images)Thomas Partey only returned to the UK from the Africa Cup of Nations at midday on Thursday, then came off the bench for Arsenal against Liverpool only to be shown a red card for two bookings, but Mikel Arteta insists: ‘Wed had to play him.’Partey’s Ghana side were eliminated early from AFCON and the midfielder was keen to return and be involved, although the weekend’s Premier League clash with Burn