Arsenal: 5 players impacted by Thomas Partey move

2. Lucas Torreira

Two years ago, Arsenal signed diminutive defensive midfielder Lucas Torreira to be the defensive solution to their vulnerable and exposed central midfield. Scrappy and energetic, he was viewed as the ideal complement to the creative, possession-based players that had previously formed the midfield positions.

While Torreira has showcased his defensive instincts, he has failed to nail down a starting role for himself consistently, with Unai Emery moving him to a box-to-box role before Arteta then dropped him for the more creative and progressive Dani Ceballos. Torreira is excellently defensively, but there are issues with his passing. He is limited in possession, and both Emery and Arteta made decisions to move away from him because of this.

Partey seems to offer a Torreira-plus option. He is equally as solid defensively, averaging 1.91 tackles per 90 minutes, 15 pressures, and 1.76 interceptions per 90 minutes this season. But he provides more in possession. He is an excellent passer. He can carry the ball past defenders and surge into space ahead of him. He is not limited to simple, sideways passes. Partey’s arrival, then, might just spell the end of Torreira at Arsenal.