Partey Pays Tribute To Atsu With His Arsenal Comeback Goal Against Bournemouth

Partey Pays Tribute To Atsu With His Arsenal Comeback Goal Against Bournemouth

Arsenal and Ghana box-to-box midfielder, Thomas Partey scored Arsenal’s first goal in their 3-2 comeback win against English Premier League side Bournemouth on Saturday March 4. 2023.

As part of the worldwide tributes that are being paid to the people of Turkey and Syria who lost their lives in the February 6 earthquake, Thomas Tete Partey decided to dedicate his goal to his international teammate Christian Atsu who lost his life in Turkey.

Partey displayed an inscription written in a white-shirted underwear which read “Rest well Christian Atsu”.

At the Emirates Stadium, Philip Billings’ first minute goal gave Bournemouth an early lead. Billings’s goal gingered the travelling fans into wild celebrations whiles the Gunners still fought to level up.

Bournemouth extended their lead to 2-0 right into the second half of play, curtesy of a strike from Marcos Senesi.

In the 62nd minute, Arsenal got a consolation goal through a simple tap in by Thomas Partey. Benjamin White scored the equalizer for Arsenal in the 70th minute before Reiss Nelson scored a thunderbolt goal to win the game for Arsenal in the 90+ 7 minute.

Thomas Partey is not the first Ghanaian to dedicate a goal to Atsu upon the Winger’s demise. Notable Ghanaian players like Mohammad Kudus have already exhibited similar forms of celebrations in tribute of Atsu.

The referee refused to book Kudus after the player celebrated his 84th minute goal shirt-up in his tribute to Atsu.

On a normal day Kudus was supposed to be given a yellow card but referee Pol van Boekel opted not to book him. 

We have football rules but this is beyond football, this is about life and death. The referee told me it’s not allowed (shirt removal) but he understands because this is a bigger situation than football. A big respect from me to the referee.”, Kudus said after the match.