Arsenal beating Barcelona 5-3 told us many things, one being that Thomas Partey is the real deal.
If Arsenal had allowed Thomas Partey to go, they would have made their most significant blunder in Arteta’s project. The Ghanaian international was vital to Arsenal being in the title picture last season, even though they failed to win it.
His impressing in the No. 6 role, linking the attack and defence, helped Arsenal be efficient for the better part of last season; it was only when he wasn’t himself towards the end of the season, probably due to fatigue, that the team struggled. But he was great, and of the midfielders Arsenal have or have had at their disposal, as the stats below suggests, only Declan Rice was better, meaning Partey ought to stay.
https://twittercom/footballdaily/status/1674338127329075206
After failing to make it to Arsenal’s starting 11 in pre-season, he got the nod to start against Barcelona. If one were to decide between Partey staying or leaving after his performance against Barcelona, we would have easily said he was going nowhere. Against Barcelona, he single-handedly pocketed Gundogan, Oriol Romeu, and Pedri.
He was so good that one may joke that he told his agent, “Let’s stir up some transfer rumours that I’m leaving, then I’ll remind them I’m the boss, and they’ll beg me for a renewal.”
Thomas Partey dazzled against Barcelona in his first start for Arsenal in pre-season. He played 70 minutes, made 37 touches, completed 28 of his 31 passes, won 4 of 10 ground duels, and successfully made two tackles.
I, for one, are very happy that Partey is still an Arsenal player this season, and playing alongside Declan Rice will make our midfield formidable.
Daniel O
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Absolutely, definitely and positively yes , for a million and one reasons Arsenal needs Partey to remain at the club..
Yes definitely, it gives us another year to look for a replacement.
IMO we should be selling Partey at the end of this season while he still holds some value in the market before he gets too old and potentially more injuries.
100%
To lose Xhaka and Partey in the same window would have a massive impact. I think this also confirms our business is done as far as midfield goes! I’m glad too because Partey has much more to offer!
Keeping him is a no brainer. For 80% of last season he was one of the best central midfielders in the EPL & Europe.
He knows & understands Mike’s tactics – Declan & Kai are still learning, Elneny & Sambi will barely get playing time.
Can’t lose Thomas!!!!
It was necessary. Absolute necessary. Wothout Partey noooo party.
100%
I still believe at full strength our best 11 will be a team with Partey and Rice together. No matter what we spent on Havertz he’s not a guaranteed starter in this team for multiple reasons. My starting eleven by any means will be;
Trossard. Jesus. Saka.
…………..Rice. Ødegaard……..
………………….. Partey…………………………..
Kiwior. Gabriel. Saliba. White.
………………………Ramsdale………………….
Subs: Turner, Timber, Zinchenko, ESR, Nelson, Fabio, Havertz, Martinelli, Jorginho.
I would likely take Tierney over Kiwior
I will definitely take Martinelli over Trossard
Other positions are okay
I’ll drop Odegaard and play Harvetz in the big physical games
I’m glad Jorginho is still an Arsenal player because Partey can’t play 38 matches straight. Besides I think Partey and Rice will only play together against tough opponents,
For my team, Martinelli will be the bonafide orchestrator on the attacking left, Trossard displaces Jesus and Timber has an automatic slot between Tierney, Gabriel and White.
Partey staying isn’t a bonus – we need him to stay, it’s necessary
If he stays, someone has to leave, because our 29-player squad would be unsustainable:
GK: Ramsdale, Turner, Hein
Left CB: Magalhaes, Kiwior, Trusty
Right CB: Saliba, White, Holding
Inverted-LB: Zinchenko, Tierney
Inverted-RB: Timber, Partey, Tomiyasu
CDM: Rice, Jorginho, Elneny
Left AM: Havertz, Smith-Rowe, Trossard
Right AM: Odegaard, Vieira
LW: Martinelli, Nelson, Tavares
RW: Saka, Marquinhos
CF: Jesus, Nketiah, Balogun
We can only have ten outfield players in our starting line-up and only one inverted-fullback can play
I don’t know where all these inverted LB, inverted GK, inverted DM, inverted CF come from. Soon you would be talking about an inverted coach
And since when did Partey become an option for RB when we have White, Timber, Tomi and Cedric – in that order?
We don’t play with conventional fullbacks and always play with the one who cuts inside instead
Soares would most likely leave soon
The best way to play Rice, Partey and Havertz together in Arteta’s 3-2-4-1 formation is making Partey play inverted-RB, if Rice plays CDM
@Gai, I think you love to complicate a simple football game… why should we move players from their natural positions with this inverted thing you love so much?
Let CBs be defenders and play Partey in midfield with Rice and have Timber at RB, White should compete for a spot at CB. Do not invert every player or position, football shouldn’t be so complicated.
Agree with this statement 100%Gcibela.
GK
RB CB’s LB
DMF
HMF
AMF
RW CF LW
Nothing complicated there!!
As for inverted fans and manager… why not extraverted?
😂🤣 extravated sounds alright for me.. Partey should be the 1st choice in the dm position. He’s really in his prime atm and so important to the way the team plays.
We used 4-2-3-1 for more than fifteen years without winning any major trophy, because the tactic is so predictable and has been used by too many teams nowadays. It is almost obsolete:
……………………… Ramsdale
Timber . Saliba . Magalhaes . Tierney
……………. Partey …………. Rice
Saka ………….. Odegaard …………. Martinelli
………………………….. Jesus
Our inverted-fullback tactic almost made us win EPL last season, so we shouldn’t change it to 4-2-3-1 to make Partey and Rice start together
Add inverted fans to that list
This is the funniest thing I have seen in a long time. After such a difficult day this just made my day 😁.
Thanks for your common sense dg8xt. What have people been drinking during the off season. The idea that the likes of Kiwior and White should be glued to the flanks is hideous. Our attack would remain lumberingly one dimensional and our defense would be exposed to quick counter attacks.
Its a no brainer to get rid of Holding,Elneny,Trusty,Tavares,Lokonga,Soames and Balogun from the squad.
I suspect that’s all Arteta will release from the squad.
Partey is a great player and hopefully he stays,same goes for Tierney.
I think those players will leave, but I’m not sure about Balogun. I heard Arsenal won’t sell him unless another club pay £50m
What are we doing with Tavares & Holding? elneny should be on his way out too.
In my opinion, Tavares could be trained as a winger. But this season seems to be Arteta’s last chance to give Kroenke a major trophy, so he might not want to waste his time for Tavares
As for Holding, he’s homegrown but he’s not as versatile as Kiwior and Tomiyasu, so he’d likely get shipped out
Elneny has to leave and be ambitious to look for first team football.
I’m surprised we haven’t heard any offer from Saudi Arabia yet
Why the surprise? gotanidea. How would Elneny attract fans to the football circus that they are trying to kick start in Saudi Arabia?
Elneny is still a main player for Egypt and famous in Middle East
OK, so that’s 30 players minus Marquinhos, who doesn’t need to be registered for the league as he’s under 21. Hein probably doesn’t need to be registered as in an emergency an under 21 keeper could be used without being registered, so he could be loaned out again. All signs point to Balogun and Tavares being sold, and Trusty either being loaned or sold. So there’s your 25.
Tierney obviously might also leave, but if he doesn’t then Holding or Elneny would likely be most at risk if another player comes in, although having extended Elneny’s contract last year it looks like they want to keep him on, potentially for a coaching role in the future. Nketiah could also be another possibility to go if an attacker joined.
Yes, I think that’s what would happen
I only hope that Arteta intends to play Partey and Rice in central midfield with Odegaard or Havertz in the AM role.My fear is he may complicate tactics to accommodate his inversion obsession which seems to be flavour of the month with many, when Man City brought home the bacon with a defensive 3-4-3 set up in the latter part of last season.Football is still a simple game despite what Managers, Analysts and certain punters would have you believe.Exerting pressure is nothing new ,nor is the oft used “in transition” which oldies like me knew as “counter attack”My advice to MA before the serious stuff begins, is keep it simple Michael and don’t try to put square pegs in round holes.For example play our best LB in that position and don’t be afraid to rest players who are obviously tired.
I sincerely hope so too, though his mentor is notorious for overthinking
I agree with you Grandad, football is a very simple and open game .Players should just be allowed to thrive at what they do best with less intervention from the coaches.
Let players compete in the natural positions and apply as less inversion as possible.
Amen to that Grandad, amen to that.
👍 Grandad, maybe Mikel Arteta requires “aversion” or “reversal” therapy to overcome his obsession with “inversion”?
100% agree..
We need to build on from where we stopped last season. And Partey was one of the driving forces for us.
Very exciting and welcome news that we get to keep him for a very crucial season..
Partey is the DNA of arsenal midfield without him arsenal will be shambolic. In terms of outgoings we can let holding leave to galatasary Elnely is not that good he can leave, Sambi Lokonga, Balogun, can also leave
Otherwise Partey Rice Jorginho Odegard Haverz, SmithRowe, Fabio Vieira should be selected in that midfield.
Pairing Partey as a 6 Rucr and Odegard as 8’s then others to come as subs
Partey is the DNA of arsenal midfield without him arsenal will be shambolic. In terms of outgoings we can let holding leave to galatasary Elnely is not that good he can leave, Sambi Lokonga, Balogun, can also leave
Otherwise Partey Rice Jorginho Odegard Haverz, SmithRowe, Fabio Vieira should be selected in that midfield.
Pairing Partey as a 6 Rice and Odegard as 8’s then others to come as subs
Personally I am definitely happy he is staying but was pretty sure he would be sold off due to his off field baggage still pending.
On his day he makes us tick over nicely so let’s hope he has more good days for us.
I believe he will be out of action for us in January due to the African nation Cup which isn’t the best thing.
I concur with you AB. The bail for the footballer who lives in North London, and who went to the World Cup, expired last week. That player then had to return to the police station to attend a meeting. That may well be the reason he never flew to the States with the rest of the squad.
Partey was main MF in a team that came second last year & was leading 75% of the time. Yet as soon as we bought 100M player some people think he can be sold.
Great news that he is Staying.😊
Aside Rodri, Thomas Partey is the Best DM in Europe.
Others are Casemiro, Hjoberg and Palhihna of Fulham.🙂
Hojbjerg and Palinha over Kimmich? 🤨
Most definitely. At his best he runs midfield and his link up play going forward gives us so many options. He wasn’t himself at the end of last season and don’t think he was over his injury.
Looking forward to seeing him and Rice making us even better than we were last season
DEFINITELY, he’s one of our best players nd should be one of the first names in the starting 11.
Rotation is gonna be key to our season nd I pray MA rotates more this time round as we kinda have depth for the first time in I don’t know his long.
Jesus, Tossard, Saka nd Timber looking sharpish in pre-season nd should all be in our starting eleven IMO.
My team selection would be as follows;
Rams
Timber Saliba GabM Ziny
Partey
Ode Rice
Saka Jesus Trossard
Subs: Martinelli, White, Tommy, Havert, Jorginho, ESR, Kiwor, Tierney, Nketiah,
Cosier-Duberry(for Saka), Elneny, Nelson, Vieira nd not forgetting Matt Turner.
This should be our 25man strong listed nd subs chosen according to teams we are about to play/performance levels in training!!!
COYG
Thomas Party is the reason we ent far last season. He was the engine room of the team. It would have been detrimental to the team if he was sold, we saw what happened when he was injured.
Elneny is not getting playing time so should leave. Is shocking Elneny is still around, not interested in leaving to get first team football claiming he loves the club. Really? And not playing, getting paid sitting on the bench
For me, Partey is even better than Rice. And I do rate Declan Rice very highly. TP, DR and MO should be our midfield trio.
Ofc the team didn’t work without him last year more or less! he is really important! so huuuge if we get rice and partey stays! my main concern was if rice will adapt to Arteta fotball instasntly? else we really need partey imo.
It is a bonus, although it shouldn’t have been a conversation in the first place. Rice and Partey HAVE to play together, otherwise he might as well have been sold. No good sat on the bench.
I’m glad Jorginho is still an Arsenal player because Partey can’t play 38 matches straight. Besides I think Partey and Rice will only play together against tough opponents,
I agree, but with the proviso that Arteta plays him along side Rice for the tough games.
My worry is, after spending $65m on Havertz, Arteta will be forced to justify that price by continually playing our lepidopterist. (Ask Chelsea’s Neil Barnet about that reference).
We might have lost any chance at the League title before Arteta grows a pair and drops our Kai into the fish pond.
Thomas Partey always been indispensable for Arsenal team. When he plays, Odegaard rarely comes back to defend. Havertz also had a good game. But he lacks a good backup for 2 seasons. No one can play full 90mins every match in EPL. This season, he will have Rice, Jorginho, Elneny and possibly Timber as backups as we got 4 competitions to win. And Partey looks better as he ages. The team needs him.
Yes, and yes. He is the perfect man for Arsenal. Letting him go would be a big mistake
Absolutely big player for arsenal we need his experience and talent going forward next season.
Simple stuff partey = Arsenal midfield
No Partey no Party. Whoever thinks we can sell TP should see a physician immediately and get back to his senses coz you flipping out of your mind.