Thomas Partey of Arsenal will not feature against PSG in the Champions League semi-final first leg (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

A lot has been made of UEFA’s suspension rules going into Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final clash with PSG.

The French giants will visit Emirates Stadium for the first leg of the semi-final on Tuesday, April 29. The return leg will be played the following week, on Wednesday, May 7, at the Parc des Princes.

One player who will not be involved in the first leg is Thomas Partey. 

The dynamic midfielder picked up his third yellow card in the competition during Wednesday’s 2-1 win over Real Madrid and will now miss the first encounter between the Gunners and PSG.

According to UEFA’s official rulebook, Article 52.04 states: “Exceptionally, all yellow cards and pending yellow-card suspensions expire on completion of the play-offs.

They are not carried forward to the group stage. In addition, all yellow cards expire on completion of the quarter-finals.

They are not carried forward to the semi-finals.”

This means, had Partey avoided being cautioned during the win in Spain, he would have been available for the first leg.

Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber and Gabriel Martinelli were also walking somewhat of a suspension tightrope against Los Blancos but all three players avoided being booked.

Partey is the second Arsenal player to be suspended in the Champions League this season after picking up three yellow cards.

Raheem Sterling was handed his third yellow card in the competition against PSV in March and, as a result, missed the quarter-final first leg against Madrid.

While Partey is suspended when the two sides meet for the first time later this month, Luis Enrique does not have any suspension issues to deal with. Spain international Fabian Ruiz was the only PSG player to go into the quarter-final second leg with Aston Villa last week on two yellow cards, but he avoided being cautioned. It means Ruiz can play in the first leg against the Gunners.

Marquinhos and Nuno Mendes have already served one-game suspensions for the French giants in this season’s Champions League due to receiving three yellow cards. Marquinhos missed the quarter-final first leg against Villa while Mendes missed the league phase fixture against Stuttgart.

The good news for both sides is that UEFA rules state a player cannot be suspended for the final even if they are cautioned in both semi-final legs. The only way they would receive a match-ban is if they are shown a red card or dismissed for violent conduct.

For Arsenal and Partey, the Ghana international will return for the second leg of the semi-final. For PSG, they will have a full squad to choose from, barring any injury and fitness concerns.