Arsenal: 3 reasons Thomas Partey not worth the investment

1. No offensive push

Mikel Arteta has a clear prerogative with all of his players—they have to do everything. The wingers have to defend, even if that winger is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (and he actually defends quite well).

Meanwhile, the defenders have to attack. They have to play well with the ball at their feet, and that’s why Arteta has been so focused on Shkodran Mustafi and David Luiz. That is one thing those two do quite well.

The midfielders also have to have that versatility, and it’s part of the reason why Torreira has fallen off a bit, and Guendouzi too. They are learning to play the game the way Arteta wants it played.

Partey is not an attacker. He doesn’t create chances, he doesn’t provide much, if any, scoring threat. So if he’s going to jive in the Arteta system he is either going to have to learn to attack, or he is going to have to be passed on in favor of another midfielder, perhaps, who does have an attacking element to his play.

Wow! That really wasn’t easy, thinking of reasons not to sign Thomas Partey. But as with any player, there are always reasons, and Partey has some of his own. Although I still have not convinced myself that anyone should be a higher priority than this man. How about you?