Partey to Arsenal
[A thread]

With Partey rumoured to be joining Arsenal, this thread looks into his strengths and why Arsenal need him.
Likes and RT’s appreciated
#AFC

The 27 year old Ghanaian is currently playing for Athletico Madrid, but is reportedly looking for a way out.

Athletico are a great club, but after tallying their worst points score in 8 years the club are in free fall, and it looks like Partey wants to jump a sinking ship.

Partey is generally seen as a DM, capable of Anchoring a midfield and allowing other players to go forwards, or as a box-to-box CM.

This season he has registered 52 interceptions and 65 tackles won, which is 21 more interceptions and 16 more tackles than any Arsenal player.

Once Partey has won the ball, he either looks to pass or go on a surging run.

When passing, Partey generally plays simple passes, looking for his sides main creator, but he is also capable of going direct as shown by his pass maps vs Liverpool below.

As for dribbles, he’s completed 47 successful dribbles this season and only Nicolas Pepe (72) has completed more out of the arsenal squad.

He’s calm on the ball, with a dribble success rate (84%) higher than Messi (67%). He evades pressure well, which you need from a DM.

The reason why Arsenal need him so badly is that his strengths are their weaknesses. This season Arsenal ranked poorly in the following:

Interceptions- 20th
Aerial duels won- 20th
Ball recoveries- 20th
Middle third tackles- 18th

He’s best played at the base of a midfield, similar to Ndidi and Fernandinho in 17/18.

In defensive phases he can effectively screen the defence like he does for Atheltico, moving with the oppositions attack and looking to make an interception as shown below.

When his side attack he will drop deeper, allowing others to go forwards and will stay in front of the CB’s available for a pass but more importantly to stop any counters.

In signing Partey, Arsenal will lose a lot of the defensive fragility that they’ve shown this season.

The side have lacked an accomplished ball winner, but also a player in midfield with a physical presence and Partey would add this.

Overall, I believe Partey could prove to be a pivotal signing for the Gunners, I could see him having a similar impact to Bruno Fernandes at United as Partey is exactly what Arsenal need.

If they complete the signings of Gabriel, Partey and Aouar they could become a real threat.

Likes and RT’s appreciated #AFC