How good can Thomas Partey be for Arsenal?

21/08/2020

Arsenal’s current squad situation

Since Mikel Arteta’s arrival, the improvement Arsenal have made is truly eye-catching. A season that started with uncertainty and negativity was finished perfectly by Mikel Arteta with the FA Cup triumph. The current squad has stepped up since his arrival. The likes of Pepe, Xhaka, and Nketiah, who were struggling under Emery, have massively improved under new management. Dani Ceballos also looks a brilliant player under Arteta, with his performances being consistently impressive.

Why do they need Thomas Partey? 

Pundits and former players have always criticized Arsenal’s midfield. The days of Veira’s dominance are now gone, and fresh blood needs to be injected. The current midfield looks defensively weak, even though in possession, they look comfortable. The partnership of Ceballos and Xhaka is getting better game by game. Against low blocks, they look good with their inventive vision and tidy passing. However, they seem to struggle against more attacking sides as the lack of robustness and lack of legs comes into the conversation.

Arsenal have got energetic midfielders in Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi, but the duo isn’t consistent. The Uruguayan isn’t favored by Arteta, while the Frenchman’s lack of discipline made his relation with Arteta unpleasant. The pair of Xhaka and Ceballos would look even better if they get a reliable and robust defensive midfielder alongside.

In that case, Thomas Partey could be perfect for Arteta’s side. The Ghanian International is an excellent midfielder known for his robustness and game reading ability. His ball recovery has consistently been remarkable for Atleti. 

Thomas Partey’s excellent stats 

Thomas recorded more than one interception per game. He also completed two tackles per 90. Partey had an 89% success rate in his dribbles in the La Liga this season. He also recorded a superb 71% success in his aerial duels.

In possession, Thomas is an excellent player, which makes him a primary candidate for Arsenal’s targets. The 27-year-old recorded a passing accuracy of 83% from a deeper position. He also played nearly three accurate long balls per 90. Another massively impressive stat here is that he completed an exceptional 5.3 progressive passes per 90.