Reports have emerged that Arsenal’s defensive midfielder Thomas Partey has attracted interest from multiple clubs. Some of those sides include Juventus and several Saudi teams. Arsenal is willing to let the 30-year-old go for a reasonable fee: it is said they are looking for around £30-40 million pounds to strike a deal.
Thomas Partey joined Arsenal in late 2020 from Atlético Madrid for a fee of £45m, and integrated himself as an important player within the squad throughout his time at the club. The speculation regarding the Ghanaian international has raised questions from fans on whether it would be a positive move for the club to let him leave the club. This is considering his ability and how important he has been in recent times.
Why Arsenal would consider parting ways
After splashing out £105 million on Declan Rice, one would expect the Englishman to walk into the Arsenal side. As both Partey and Rice play the same position, the latter is seen to be Partey’s long-term replacement for the future. If an offer of around £30-£40 million did come in for Partey, it would allow them to strengthen the squad. Reports suggest Arsenal could enter the race for Roméo Lavia if Partey was to leave.
At his time throughout his Arsenal career, Partey has been hit with a couple of injuries, missing a total of 37 games through injury since he joined the club. That is not ideal when you are going to be challenging for silverware across multiple competitions next season. However, if he is to be more of a backup option, it could be a good way to utilize his phenomenal footballing abilities.
Partey was an important factor in Arsenal’s results throughout last season. Unfortunately, he struggled to find his form when he came back from injury. Moreover, he was partly responsible for the breakdown of the pursuit of the Premier League champion status.
Reasons Partey should stay at Arsenal
When fit, the Ghanaian is up there in talks with the likes of Rodri, and Casemiro. Some even say he is better than both with the form he was in at the start of last season. Partey is a proven performer at Arsenal and has showcased his ability to play at a top level. If they were to sell him and bring in Lavia, would he be able to have a similar impact as Thomas Partey?
Partey possesses a wide array of exceptional abilities that have established him to be the player he is today; his passing ability is superior to others in his position; being able to distribute the ball with ease. He is a winner of aerial duels across the pitch, dribbling in and out of tight spaces in high-pressure situations. Nicknamed an “octopus” by Arsenal fans, on his day, he excels in tackling and dispossesses the opponents with ease. Furthermore, he has high concentration levels throughout the entirety of games.
With Arsenal back in the Champions League next season – and wanting to compete in other competitions available to start winning silverware consistently again – depth is key. Manchester City has showcased how important it is to have multiple options in every position to ensure as little drop-off as possible throughout the season. This will prove to be important for Arsenal next season with the ramping up of games and expectations due to last season.
Mikel Arteta has a plan
I'd keep Thomas Partey, Partey Rice Odegaard that's a serious midfield combination, give Rice more of a license to go forward 🔴⚪
— Darren Bent (@DarrenBent) July 15, 2023
A midfield of Partey, Rice, and Martin Ødegaard would be an interesting thing to see played by Mikel Arteta. In a 4-3-3 formation, Partey could play alongside Rice in a double pivot behind Ødegaard.
Kai Havertz is supposedly going to be deployed as an eight in the Arsenal side. Many suggest the midfield is going to consist of Havertz, Rice, and Ødegaard.
Arteta has a clear plan for his side, with or without Partey. If he was to leave, a suitable replacement will be brought in otherwise. After all, it would not make sense to let a player of such high quality go to reduce the depth of the squad going into the season. The Gunners will aim to challenge for the Premier League, Champions League, and other competitions.