Arsenal’s important midfield transfer rests on Thomas Partey decision

Arsenal need to sign some midfielders, while in other news water is wet and Willian was a colossal failure. The issue isn’t about volume, but quality. The other component is, what kind of midfielder does Mikel Arteta need this summer to make his side tick?

Albert Sambi Lokonga is arriving – honestly he is, he wasn’t present for pre-season training with Anderlecht – and will add depth in an area that is working its way towards being threadbare.

More akin to the Thomas Partey ilk, he isn’t expected to be thrust straight into the lineup and will instead be slowly integrated as his teammates and manager get to understand him better and vice versa.

Granit Xhaka, Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira are all leaving and what remains in north London isn’t a full hand. Despite having no European football to contend with, extra bodies are essential.

Arsenal’s important midfield transfer rests on Thomas Partey decision as Locatelli and Bissouma links hint at different tactical approach

One of them looks like being the returning Joe Willock. After a magnificent loan spell with Newcastle it’s been stated that unless an undisclosed, yet ‘impossible’, offer arrives then Arteta will reward the 21-year-old with more opportunities in the first team next season.

Even with that in mind he isn’t expected to be starting regularly for Arsenal as the man to replace Xhaka will be tasked with partnering Partey for the vast majority of the coming Premier League campaign.

So far this window who exactly that player is depends on what rumours you believe and what personal preference one has for how this side will look moving forward.

Manuel Locatelli is being heavily linked and is someone Arsenal are looking at bringing in, yet earlier in the window and even at the start of last season it was Yves Bissouma who was considered the prime target. Even now both players are still thought to be under consideration.

They are, however, nothing alike. In style, build, technically or in general profile, they share few similarities.

As names like Eduardo Camavinga and Renato Sanches are also flung about, the common denominator in all of this is the man they will be tasked with playing alongside: Thomas Partey.

Were Locatelli to walk through the pearly Emirates gates then what is asked of the Ghanaian differs entirely from what responsibilities he will be bestowed with were his partner in crime to be Bissouma. Whether one trusts every rumour or not, player chemistry and relationships are crucial in a functioning football team. Based on the rumours so far, it appears Arteta doesn’t know what he wants from his midfield.

There is a vital tactical decision to make with Partey.

Continued…

Is Thomas Partey a No. 6 or a Box-to-Box Midfielder for Arsenal?

Just as with pretty much every single aspect of Arsenal, there is a divide of opinion with this: is Partey a box-to-box midfielder yet to be unlocked, a tandem No. 6/8 next to a similar profile or can he be the more expansive No. 8 with a true sitting midfielder alongside?

The 28-year-old has demonstrated elements of both so far. If we’re being critical, the more expressive element of his game has yet to truly blossom: decision making and the final pass have been lacking whereas the proactive defensive style he adopts has looked strong.

Arteta’s marquee signing to date, we were told that Partey’s move to Arsenal was made with an eye on him being freed from his Diego Simeone-inspired defensive shackles. Xhaka can’t dribble and lacks the athleticism to push too high up the pitch, therefore Partey would have greater freedom to make those drives in possession his clever body shaping and technical ability allowed him to.

If Bissouma were to be brought in then the burden of creativity on his shoulders would increase ten-fold. The Malian had an excellent campaign last time out as the destroyer who covers every blade of grass in his own half, intercepts and tackles, with most elements beyond the halfway line not his remit.

Were it Sanches to join this summer then the roles are inherently different. The Portuguese loves to collect the ball from deep, progress through the thirds and make those final third passes and entries. His defensive capabilities are lacking and Partey would revert to being the deepest operator in midfield.

So what is the decision? Where does Arteta plan to take this side? By all means keep your options open but once you set your sights on a target you’re also setting your sights on a profile. So far this window we’ve seen a blend of goalscoring No. 8’s, deep-lying destroyers and Xhaka-esque possession-based players with outstanding passing qualities.

Whatever the manager does opt for, it speaks volumes of Partey.

Continued…

Thomas Partey Has Trust From His Manager and the Fans

While this is all being played out in the open and plenty of the links this window may have little to no legitimacy, the Locatelli and Bissouma ones have been concretely reported.

What that can allude to is that Arteta has unwavering faith in Partey. Based off of the responses to many of the links in question, it also demonstrates a great deal of faith from the supporters for what Partey can do.

Especially after a season where, and let’s not sugarcoat it, Partey was mostly disappointing.

There were dashes of his superior quality – when he took to the turf against Rapid Vienna in his first start the gulf in class between him and the other midfielders hit home like a steam train – intermittent with some wasteful outings.

The £45m fee will always weigh heavy and increase the demand for price-worthy performances but he was someone who if you took out of the team it was evident what was missing. Topping the charts in the squad for tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes, successful pressures of the ball, ball recoveries and tackles won, his value to the engine room was unmatched.

And depending how it’s framed, this summer is more about finding Partey’s partner than it is replacing Xhaka. Yet because so many different profiles can work, it’s evidence of how versatile he is.

If Arsenal were to head down the Premier League experienced route then this writer would love to see Kalvin Phillips. Is he the only player who could come in to Arsenal and improve the level? Absolutely not, and a lot of that comes down to Partey’s own ability. The amount of ‘perfect’ options available is largely linked to the player these potential arrivals will play with.

However, it still means that Arteta will need to narrow down who it is that he is after: does he want the energetic combativeness of Bissouma or the silky, technically versatile grace of Locatelli?

Whatever he opts for it’s arguably the most important transfer of the season. What he can be sure of though, is that the man he has to his side can fulfill his own duties.