Arsenal’s Thomas Partey partner: Zambo Anguissa or Yves Bissouma?

Mohamed Elneny is a very likable character. To a certain degree, so is Dani Ceballos for his pure enthusiasm and desire. Unfortunately for Arsenal, their midfield won’t run smoothly on those ingredients. They need more bodies, better bodies, and two players to suit the mould are André-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Yves Bissouma.

With or without Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka has proven himself to be a more than adequate central midfielder. His form since Christmas has been exemplary, with his role in the side as worthy of praise as the exciting forwards in front of him.

The options alongside him leave plenty to be desired, though. Mohamed Elneny does a fabulous job of showing Arsenal precisely what they don’t have in midfield. The lack of line-breakers and ball carriers in central midfield has hamstrung the club beyond just this season – even if the issue has become more noteworthy this campaign – the likes of Sanit Cazorla, Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere and others never sufficiently replaced.

There is no spark, drive or invention. There is just Thomas Partey. As seen on numerous occasions when the Swiss lines up with someone other than Partey, the laborious, uninventive approach with no understanding for the economy of touches and willingness to drive returns. Arsenal can get away with on occasion, but they need more. They need variety.

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Arsenal’s summer transfer window options to partner Thomas Partey in midfield: André-Frank Zambo Anguissa or Yves Bissouma?

Whether the players they sign come in to usurp Xhaka or at least to offer genuine competition for places, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Yves Bissouma have to be among those mentioned as viable options.

Strengthening central midfield is essential come the summer transfer window. Elneny has reverse tunnel vision, Ceballos can’t carry the ball and Xhaka isn’t physically built to cover ground effectively in or out of possession. Strong links have seen Bissouma rumoured with a move to ‘boyhood’ side Arsenal, and while there has been no concrete speculation linking the Gunners with Anguissa, he must be considered.

But who would be the preferred choice to partner Partey?

Statistical Look at Frank Anguissa and Yves Bissouma

Arguments will be made that two players entangled in relegation scraps shouldn’t be on the Gunners’ wishlist. Even if both fall into that bracket, the amount of praise they’ve received from onlookers speaks to their abilities, although not quite as much as the statistics do.

As per fbref*, Bissouma and Anguissa both rank in the top six Premier League midfielders for tackles made this season – the 25-year-old ranking higher than any other central midfielder in the division for tackles in the final third. As for interceptions, only Declan Rice has made more than the Cameroonian, who averages roughly 2.3 per 90 minutes. Bissouma, meanwhile, sits on a lower figure in the region of 1.3.

With Arsenal possessing the likes of Emile Smith Rowe in their side, they’ve gravitated themselves towards becoming an effective counter-pressing unit. It’s still a work in progress, of course, but the necessity to win the ball back rapidly is essential – and even on the occasions where it isn’t wrestled back, mobility and agility are required to recover in such situations. Both the two players mentioned possess great engines and superb work-rate.

When it comes to their traits on the ball, Anguissa stands out. Not just between the two, but indeed among all players in the Premier League in his position. Remarkably, only Adama Traore has completed more dribbles than him – 72 at the time of writing – and his 79.1% success rate is bettered by only four players to have attempted 20 or more dribbles (one of whom is Ceballos). Fulham provide the platform for the midfielder to express his talents and he duly accepts.

It isn’t as much Bissouma’s remit, but he still manages a 63.8% success rate from 47 attempted. As for progressive carries, Bissouma averages 4.34 per 90 minutes, with Anguissa sitting on 5.98 per 90 minutes. In his position, only five rank higher.

Creatively, Anguissa offers a greater threat. Both are fairly equal in passes leading to a shot per 90 minutes (≈1.5), but the Cameroonian’s dribbles are an ideal press and line-breaking tool, having directly resulted in two goals. Bissouma hasn’t completed a dribble leading to a shot.

What Do Arsenal Need in Central Midfield?

That is the question.

Partey was convinced of the project north London with the scope to play in a freer role than he was previously at Atletico Madrid. Thus, finding the right partner to balance shielding and progressive duties is key to unlocking that potential. Valid cases can be made for Anguissa and Bissouma.

Certainly the less adventurous of the two is the Malian, whose better qualities are his protection of the back four and ability to break up play. Partnering Partey, he’d be the deeper of the two, providing a wider range for the Ghanaian to pick up advanced areas as his mobility has greater benefit in defending transitions and turnovers.

With Anguissa, his penchant for dribbling and superior technical ability – he performs these audacious flicks over opponents’ heads regularly – means a finer balancing act will have to be struck. On balance, as a partner for Partey, Bissouma is the more natural fit as the there are striking similarities with Anguissa.

In the case of both, however, neither are left-footed. This is a concern. Marginally you could say Bissouma has the better wrong foot and has played on the left side of central midfield more often, as it’s not Anguissa’s strong point. Given the rhythm Arsenal have found on their left side with Kieran Tierney’s overlaps working in symmetry with a wide player drifting into the half-spaces for Xhaka to find, this does cause concern.

Choosing between the two, finance and physical stature come into play. Anguissa is a fiercer presence to deal with and, of the two, would evoke similarities to the Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit duo of 1997/98: complementary and battle hardened. Arteta’s side need physicality central area to truly boss matches, thus Anguissa shades this.

Financially, Brighton are in no rush to sell and a bidding war is expected come the summer, all of which will hike up Bissouma’s price tag. Fulham, however, may go down and Anguissa will be available for considerably less if so. With the way the season is going, either could avoid the drop or be sent packing.

From a visual perspective, what do supporters want? A little bit of everything, in truth, but Anguissa would offer congenial company for Partey and strike fear into the opposition, while Bissouma provides the more natural fit.

Both would be welcome additions in midfield this summer, even if the links to Bissouma are much more concrete than Anguissa.

*** all stats correct as of matchday 28.