Arsenal: The 3 players to form dream central midfield

2. Thomas Partey

There are growing rumours linking Alexandre Lacazette with the exit door. The striker has not replicated his Player of the Season form this campaign and could reportedly be offered to Atletico Madrid in a swap deal for defensive midfielder Thomas Partey, who is set to enter the final year of his contract.

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Partey is a strong, sturdy, supremely athletic defensive midfielder with the frame and power to break up play, win tackles, and then shield the ball from attackers. But to pain him as just a destroyer would be a disservice to his talent. He is far more than just destructive in midfield. He has terrific close control, is an able passer, and can drive forward when given the space to do so.

This season, with his ranking in La Liga in brackets, excluding those that have played fewer than 1000 minutes, his pass completion rate is 82.4% (59th), he plays 7.21 progressive passes per 90 (24th), 6.62 passes into the final third per 90 (8th).

Defensively, Partey is more reserved and patient. He wins 1.91 tackles per game, a good number but not an over-active one. He makes 1.76 interceptions per game, good for 21st in La Liga. In an Arsenal midfield that is positionally rash and immobile, inserting a calmer defender who sits deeper to read the game would be ideal. Partey, then, is the all-around defensive midfielder that Arsenal have been looking for.