Arsenal: Thomas Partey can make Granit Xhaka-N’Golo Kante right

Arsenal are reportedly chasing Atletico Madrid midfielder, Thomas Partey. The anchorman can make right the mistake of signing Granit Xhaka instead of N’Golo Kante.

Prior to the 2016/17 season, Arsenal desperately needed midfield reinforcements. As had been their issue for more than a decade, the team was lacking a strong, athletic, defensive-minded presence in front of the defence. Over the years, they had tried many different solutions, from Alex Song and Abou Diaby to Francis Coquelin and Mikel Arteta. At best, each provided short-term relief.

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The problem was never solved, and after years of blindness to the problem, it seemed as though Arsene Wenger was finally ready and willing to throw some money at a potential solution. That is when the club signed Granit Xhaka for £35 million, the Swiss international set to become the cornerstone of the midfield. It was a mistake.

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While Xhaka has been solid throughout his time at the club, he has never matched the expectations that come with a £35 million price tag. He has never been close to an elite Premier League midfielder, which is what he was bought to be.

But the error was compounded by Chelsea’s move to sign N’Golo Kante in the same summer. The all-action midfielder left Leicester City after their remarkable title run for £5 million less than Xhaka. Chelsea won the league title in Kante’s first season at the club, with the midfielder forming a crucial bond with Nemanja Matic as the centrepiece of Antonio Conte’s 3-4-3 system.

Ever since that summer, the pair have been inextricably linked. They are consistently compared to one another, often to the detriment of Xhaka, with Arsenal and Chelsea analysed for the difference in their approaches regarding their attempts to solve their central midfield problems.

As a result, for the Gunners, these vulnerabilities in central midfield still persist. They lack an athletic, powerful, technically gifted holding midfield player to anchor the team, protect the defence, and also protect and use the ball when under pressure, as has become increasingly important in the high-press-orientated modern game. Bar centre-back, this is the biggest need of the team.

And so, per The Telegraph, in response to this obvious weakness, the club is reportedly set to pursue Atletico Madrid midfielder, Thomas Partey, who has established himself as one of the best holding midfielders in world football, and are willing to exercise his £45 million release clause. Atletico are bracing themselves from a wave of interest around Europe, of which Arsenal are a leading figure. And there is good reason.

Partey is the ideal modern-day midfielder. He has the physical skill set to excel in the high-intensity style that matches are played in, but he allies this with calm and composed play under pressure. He twists and turns his way into space to alleviate pressure. He plays forward passes to instigate attacks from deep. He helps conduct the team’s play in possession, like Xhaka, without being a detriment when being pressed or in defensive phases.

Partey is the perfect modern-day central midfielder. He would be a terrific signing the Arsenal would be wise to pursue this summer. And should he arrive, he might finally make up for the Xhaka-Kante mistake all those years ago.