Thomas Partey says the “exciting plans” of the manager of Arsenal football club, Mikel Arteta, inspired him to join the club this summer.
The 27-year-old Ghanaian defensive midfielder joined Arsenal on the deadline date of the summer transfer window from Atletico Madrid. Arsenal had to squeeze out £45 million before the versatile midfielder could leave the Spanish La Liga side.
Since he joined the Premier League club on October 5, he has not had the opportunity to play any competitive match for the Gunners, thanks to the Fifa international break. Arsenal‘s fans could have the opportunity to see the midfielder in action on Saturday, October 17 when the club visit Etihad to play Manchester City in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, Thomas Partey has arrived at Arsenal training ground ahead of the club’s meeting with Manchester City. The midfielder touched down on Tuesday after his international engagement with Ghana.
While away on international duty, he showed Mikel Arteta why he should be very proud of bringing him to the Emirate Stadium. The former Atletico Madrid star was instrumental in ensuring that the country ended their international friendly with Qatar 5-1. Partey provided two assists to seal the victory for Ghana.
While at Arsenal’s training ground on Tuesday, he had a chat with the press where he confirmed that Arsenal’s coach performed a very important role in his move to the Premier League side.
“Arteta was very important [for the move],” Thomas Partey said. “Him and (technical director) Edu told me about their plans and it was so exciting, so I had to accept it.
“[The manager] has seen me play and knows what I can bring to the team. I think he watched me at Atletico and wants me to bring the same to this team.
“I think I have to be quick [to adapt] and learn everything as fast as I can. I have to do everything I have to do in training and make him see me and that I’m ready to play for him.
“It’s a great challenge. I want to experience new challenges. I’m ready to give it my all and help the club get back to where it belongs.”
What Thomas Partey is bringing to Arsenal
Before Thomas Partey left Atletico Madrid where he has been since 2015, the defensive midfielder played 188 games in which he provided 12 assists and scored 16 goals for the Spanish team.
Partey contributed so much that his former manager at Atletico Madrid, Diego Simeone, described the Ghanaian football star as one of the players in the world who “best understands this position and the transition from defense to attack, shooting, scoring, providing assists and playing passes between the lines”.
Simeone went further to say that when Thomas Partey is “at his best level consistently, he’s so good that all the best teams in Europe are looking at him.”
So, based on these comments, Arsenal football club just signed a defensive-minded midfielder who can not only defend, but can pass, assist, score goals, pressure opposition defense, and can dribble his way through tight corners. So, Arsenal’s fans can’t wait to see how Partey will blend with the current Arsenal’s set-up in his five years stay at the club.
