Thomas Partey: No Doubting Thomas

[db10_therza]

He is very Xhaka like and that is almost certainly the reason why Arteta signed him.

He really isn’t tbh. What part of his game is like Granit’s? They are both left footed - is that it? If Mikel genuinely thinks this he’s an idiot.

I don’t want to make this about whether Merino is good or not, I’m just talking about the stylistic comparison. Xhaka’s strength was reading the game at a distance. Merino prefers to consider and operate in much smaller windows on the pitch. It’s why he will never be a conductor type, which is what we really need in midfield.

Merino is an incredible squad option but I don’t see how he’s first XI material given the players around him. Sadly I think the same about a few of our players.

 

[Legend14]

People hate to admit it but he's by far our best central midfielder. Outshines Rice and I won't even mention Merino.

Currently yes, but he and Rice are different types of players. My concern is that Merino is not likely to have a major impact other than a little depth.

 

[SA Gunner]

If Merino is to sit out for Rice-TP-Ode, which looks likely right now, then we’ll have to redefine Rice’s role on that left side, as we won’t be able to naturally rotate like we would have seen with Merino, Calafiori and Martinelli.

We do need TP and Ode in the middle more to give us that central access more consistently. Getting in behind that central block teams set up with is so important in that it takes out a lot of players who would occupy those defensive spaces and creates quite a few 1v1 situations for our attackers.

I also like the idea of having Lewis-Skelly rotate in that area more. He is only 17 I know, but he is showing a level of quality there that we must tap into sooner.

 

[Tell.]

People hate to admit it but he's by far our best central midfielder. Outshines Rice and I won't even mention Merino.

It's obvious why he isn't getting the ratings his performances deserve & I back that crowd.

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

Merino was always bought to compete for spot wasn't guarantee starter quickly Partey and Rice usually our best options specially Partey back on form now and fit you can't drop him. The only problem rice going to do LCM shifts again and I really don't like it not only limit us but also affect him.

 

[Bloodbather]

He really isn’t tbh. What part of his game is like Granit’s? They are both left footed - is that it? If Mikel genuinely thinks this he’s an idiot.

I don’t want to make this about whether Merino is good or not, I’m just talking about the stylistic comparison. Xhaka’s strength was reading the game at a distance. Merino prefers to consider and operate in much smaller windows on the pitch. It’s why he will never be a conductor type, which is what we really need in midfield.

Merino is an incredible squad option but I don’t see how he’s first XI material given the players around him. Sadly I think the same about a few of our players.

The big difference between them is the one you mentioned, Xhaka is more of a ball sprayer over long distances, Merino is a short to mid-range progressor.

They are very similar otherwise. Physical players who love a duel, both left-footed, both are good sneaking into the box, both can drift to the left to provide width, both aren't the quickest, etc.

I don’t think we have seen him as his Sociedad self yet, he might not be a metronome deep lying playmaker but he's also not this destroyer type that he's being made out to be here.

 

[Mrs Bergkamp]

Our best MF at present. Praying he stays fit for the whole season.

 

[Sebastes]

Well well well, who would’ve thought

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

So he decided to stay fit when we s**t.

Nice banter uncle just nice.

Anyway great performance keep it up

 

[Dennis_Bergkamp_10]

Best player from August - November in our entire team.

 

[Riou]

Partey now that there is nothing really for us to play for at the minute...

Partey when we need him at season's end, when trophies are on the line...

 

[avenellroad]

I don’t really see what he’s doing to suddenly stand out. He’s nowhere near the level he was in 22/23 when he was one of the best midfielders in Europe.

He still looks a bit suspect on the ball and is always on the edge of being caught out or pressed. Two seasons ago he was our most press-resistant player anchoring the midfield single-handedly. We need to move on from him in the summer.

 

[SA Gunner]

I don’t really see what he’s doing to suddenly stand out. He’s nowhere near the level he was in 22/23 when he was one of the best midfielders in Europe.

He still looks a bit suspect on the ball and is always on the edge of being caught out or pressed. Two seasons ago he was our most press-resistant player anchoring the midfield single-handedly. We need to move on from him in the summer.

I think him being in less physical shape than he was two seasons ago, is a given.

What is different is his improved ball retention on the ball and his defensive strength when off it. Go back and watch the Inter game and see how many times he was able to roll his markers and break out of pressure from 2 or 3 players, particularly when receiving in their midblock.

Defensively, go back and watch his game against Luis Diaz the other day. He was absolutely brilliant against an actual game plan from Slot. They wanted that 1v1 situation all game.

He is in superb form at the moment, keeping our midfield ticking along. Lets hope he stays fit.

 

[ArsenalInMyHeart]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1854510658768781578

Partey really want to be fit

 

[SA Gunner]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1854510658768781578

Partey really want to be fit

Yeah he is definitely playing here for his contract.

 

[Batman]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1854510658768781578

Partey really want to be fit

This is the most obvious trap I've ever seen and the club will fall for it and give him a contract extension.

 

[James Bond]

I don’t really see what he’s doing to suddenly stand out. He’s nowhere near the level he was in 22/23 when he was one of the best midfielders in Europe.

He still looks a bit suspect on the ball and is always on the edge of being caught out or pressed. Two seasons ago he was our most press-resistant player anchoring the midfield single-handedly. We need to move on from him in the summer.

Back then he had a (actual) midfield partner who has 130+ caps for his country and LB who is really a midfielder. He could break a press with one of his dummies or feints and have a pass to a player on the same wavelength. Since then he’s played with a “striker” in CM (Havertz) and a CB (Rice).

 

[BergMan]

Pulling out of Ghana duty again?

You can tell he is trying everything to get a new deal.

 

[ksarp]

I don’t really see what he’s doing to suddenly stand out. He’s nowhere near the level he was in 22/23 when he was one of the best midfielders in Europe.

He still looks a bit suspect on the ball and is always on the edge of being caught out or pressed. Two seasons ago he was our most press-resistant player anchoring the midfield single-handedly. We need to move on from him in the summer.

Wow... ok

 

[Dennis_Bergkamp_10]

Wow... ok

Some people deserve a Rice - Merino midfield for 38 games, only to whine later that we need to improve on them.