IT really is Partey time for Arsenal after the Gunners’ No18 Thomas put in a sensational display in the 1-0 win over Manchester United.
The Ghanaian midfielder, 27, was the king of the stats at Old Trafford and was hailed as the ‘successor to Patrick Vieira’ by former United midfielder Roy Keane with Paul Scholes also emphatic in his praise.
Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey impressed with a dominant performance against Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Partey celebrates skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s winning penalty at Old TraffordCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Partey put in the most successful tackles and won an incredible ELEVEN duels.
The central midfielder won three out of the four tackles he attempted – double the next highest made across both sides.
Arsenal’s new boy – signed for £45million from Atletico Madrid on deadline day – showed his prowess with the ball too as he had the best passing accuracy of 93 per cent and the most dribbles completed, 4.
Partey made 55 successful passes out of the 59 he fired off – the second most made on the park behind team-mate Mohamed Elneny.
His display outshone the big-name Red Devils pair of Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba – who blamed himself for the ‘stupid mistake’ of tripping Hector Bellerin to concede the crucial spot-kick.
Outspoken hard man Keane made the comparison with his old nemesis and ex-Gunners skipper Vieira and said he ‘wished’ United had bought Partey.
Keane told Sky Sports: “When you watch a player live, that’s when you can judge.
“The more I watch him, the more I wish he was in the Man United midfield.
The percentage of answers have been round up or down from their decimal points
“I think this kid has got a chance of matching what Patrick [Vieira] used to do.
“I wish we had him in United’s midfield. He could definitely be Arsenal’s successor to Vieira.”
Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s penalty ended his five-game goal drought and handed United defeat on Sunday – ramping up the pressure on boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
And speaking about the impressive Partey, Salford City’s interim boss Scholes told Sky Sports: “He’s an all-round midfielder.
“You don’t see many players like that these days.
“Midfielders are attacking midfielders or holding midfielders but a midfield players’ job is to do everything.
“You have to contribute with everything and today he did a brilliant job in all departments.”
Thomas Partey transfer signing proves Arsenal are title contenders, claims team-mates as £45m new boy is unveiled
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
