Report: Arsenal ready to open contract talks with Thomas Partey

Reports are beginning to emerge which suggest that Arsenal are ready to open contract talks with midfielder Thomas Partey.

The Ghanaian's current deal in north London expires at the end of the season, and some were left frustrated by the club's decision to opt against selling Partey in the summer given his situation.

The 31-year-old has endured constant injury setbacks since joining the Gunners in 2020, and many supporters had washed their hands with the unreliable midfielder following an underwhelming 2023/24 campaign plagued by a hamstring injury.

However, Partey returned to Mikel Arteta's starting XI for the final six weeks of the season, and the positive momentum he built after returning from injury has been carried into the new campaign. The midfielder has so far remained injury free and is performing at a level we haven't seen from him in quite some time.

Arsenal ready to open contract talks with Thomas Partey

“We play him to find our best version and to be the most competitive team that we can be and try to win every single game," Arteta recently said when asked whether Partey was playing to earn a new contract.

The Spaniard has always stuck by the 31-year-old, insisting on Partey's importance to his project time and time again. The Ghanaian has started every Premier League and Champions League game so far this season, impressing on the big occasion against Manchester City and PSG. He's no longer a physical phenom and he hasn't exactly dazzled in possession, but Partey has offered greater reliability in the build-up phase, proven himself to be efficient in all phases, and has helped mop up the second ball in the middle of the park. He's been functional, but such players are necessary.

As a result of his good start to the season, Arsenal, according to Graeme Bailey, are ready to open talks with Partey's camp over a contract extension. The club recently handed 32-year-old Jorginho a short-term extension after the Italian proved himself as a useful squad player, and the Gunners could offer Partey a similar deal.

While the Ghanaian has been more than serviceable at the start of 2024/25, Arsenal are not going to be handing the 31-year-old a long-term deal. He is not the future, but he could at least take on Jorginho's role as Arteta's project continues to evolve.

If he opts against an extension, Partey should have his fair share of suitors if he continues to play at the level he's shown for much of the season thus far.

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