Tag: Thomas Partey

  • Keown admits Spurs’ ‘team of Mourinhos’ deserved derby spoils

    Keown admits Spurs’ ‘team of Mourinhos’ deserved derby spoils

    The sight of Thomas Partey walking off the pitch as Tottenham surged forward to double their lead in the north London derby is another example of Arsenal’s “footballing brain not functioning” in 2020-21, says Martin Keown.

    The Gunners made the short trip to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday looking for a spark to ignite what has already become a faltering campaign.

    Mikel Arteta’s side bossed possession at the home of their arch-rivals, but were unable to turn ball retention into anything more tangible.

    Jose Mourinho put in another masterclass, with the Spurs boss seeing his side earn a 2-0 victory that has cemented their place at the top of the Premier League table.

    Keown concedes that Tottenham look to be the real deal, certainly in north London, with Arsenal slipping alarmingly off the pace.

    The former defender says the Gunners, who have made their worst start in 39 years, are continuing to shoot themselves in the foot with Partey’s questionable decision to head for the sidelines after picking up a knock considered to be another example of Arteta’s side switching off.

    Keown told the Daily Mail: “It was a world-class opener by Son Heung-min but nobody in an Arsenal shirt tested him. With the time he had, he could have got a protractor out to measure the angles of the shot.

    “Then Tottenham’s second goal was a copy of the first: Arsenal lost possession high up the pitch and were punished on the counter. Thomas Partey had walked off because he was injured, and this was an example of a team’s footballing brain not functioning.

    “Both of Arsenal’s full backs, Hector Bellerin and Kieran Tierney, had flown forward as if they were still being used as wing backs. Suddenly, one ball out and it was four on two in favour of Tottenham.

    “Where was the communication? Arsenal over-committed in this game and encouraged the opposition to break.

    “Tottenham, meanwhile, were compact and picked their moments to pounce. Their two midfielders, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Moussa Sissoko, were never too far from their central defenders.

    “Arsenal had 70 per cent possession but Spurs knew what to do when they didn’t have the ball. They put up a shield. Even Harry Kane had more touches in his own box than the opposition one.

    “Tottenham’s players are working so hard and have bought into Jose Mourinho’s messages. They’re morphing from a group of nice guys into a team of Mourinhos.”

    While Spurs sit at the Premier League summit, out-of-sorts Arsenal find themselves languishing in 15th spot with just 13 points from 11 games.

  • Mesut Ozil can play for Arsenal because of Thomas Partey protection – Paul Merson

    Mesut Ozil can play for Arsenal because of Thomas Partey protection – Paul Merson

    Ozil was left out of Mikel Arteta’s squad for the Premier League and Europa League group stages this season, and has not played a minute for the club since March.

    The 32-year-old, whose contract runs out in the summer, can only be re-registered to Arsenal’s Premier League and Europa League knockout squads after the January transfer window, but Merson says the German’s skillset is perfect for the Gunners, as long as Partey is playing.

    Here, Merson also insists Arteta is hampered by not knowing his best XI, and was saddened by just how fast Tottenham have overtaken his former side in spending and performances.

  • Mikel Arteta Confirms Thomas Partey’s Injury

    Mikel Arteta Confirms Thomas Partey’s Injury

    Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Thomas Partey was replaced in Arsenal’s home defeat to Aston Villa due to thigh injury.

    The Ghana international was replaced at half time by Dani Ceballos as the Gunners lost 3-0 at the Emirates.

    READ ALSO: Mikel Arteta speaks on Arsenal defeat to Aston Villa

    And speaking after the game, Arteta reveals the former Atletico Madrid star will undergo a scan to ascertain the extent of the injury.
     
    “We don’t know [the extent] of it,” our manager said.

    “We have to scan him tomorrow or the day after and see what he felt straight away. Let’s wait and see what the magnitude of the injury is.
     
    “I don’t know [if he will go away with Ghana now]. As I said, the doctor will have to have a look at him and probably scan him. Then we will decide what to do with him.”

  • Thomas Partey talks Deadline Day move to Arsenal and striking the midfield balance

    Thomas Partey talks Deadline Day move to Arsenal and striking the midfield balance

    Ahead of Man Utd vs Arsenal this weekend, live on Sky Sports, Thomas Partey sat down with Patrick Davison to discuss his Deadline Day move to Arsenal and why he wants to be like Yaya Toure and Michael Essien.

    Partey was a long-rumoured target for Arsenal and despite the chance for a deal this summer appearing to have come and gone, the move was back on as we headed deep into Deadline Day.

    READ ALSO:


    Tottenham need better home form to challenge for Premier League top spot – Jose Mourinho

    With a plethora of Partey-based puns at their disposal, the Gunners soon announced the Ghanaian’s arrival from Atletico Madrid late in the evening, although Partey woke up with little knowledge of any deal in the works.

  • Arsenal unveil new signing Thomas Partey after his £45m move from Atletico Madrid

    Arsenal unveil new signing Thomas Partey after his £45m move from Atletico Madrid

    Thomas Partey has finally been unveiled as a new Arsenal player after joining the club in a £45m deal.

    Arsenal coach, Mikel Arteta signed the Ghanaian midfielder on deadline day after the club paid Atletico Madrid his release clause to seal the deal.

    After the signing, Arteta said : “We have been watching Thomas for a while, so we’re now delighted to add such a high-quality player to our squad.

    He is a dynamic midfielder with great energy. He brings a lot of experience from a top club that has competed at the highest level in La Liga and the Champions League for several years.

    “We’re very impressed with his attitude and his approach to the game. He’s an intelligent footballer and we’re looking forward to him integrating into our system and contributing to the progress we’re building at the moment at the club.”

    On Tuesday, October 13, Thomas was pictured posing in the club’s jerseys for his first Arsenal photoshoot with the midfielder in line to make his Premier League debut against Manchester City this weekend.

    He will wear the No 18 shirt for the club.

  • Atletico Madrid confirm sale of Partey to Arsenal

    Atletico Madrid confirm sale of Partey to Arsenal

    English Premier League (EPL) side Arsenal completed the biggest move of transfer deadline day on Monday as they secured the signing of Thomas Partey from Atletico Madrid.

    “La Liga on Monday informed Atletico Madrid at 23:28 that representatives from Arsenal arrived at the footballing body’s headquarters looking to meet Thomas Partey’s release clause,” read a statement on Atletico Madrid’s website just before the midnight CET deadline.

    “Thus, the player has unilaterally ended his work contract that he had signed with the club through to 30 June 2023.”

    The deal is worth 50 million euros (45.37 million pounds).

    Arsenal then announced the deal on social media at 23:15 local time.

    Under La Liga rules all players must have a buyout clause in their contracts and any club wishing to activate it must deposit the full amount with the Spanish league.

    The league organisers will then release the player’s registration before passing the fee onto the selling club.

    Read also: Mikel Arteta backs Arsenal board after missing out on Houssem Aouar transfer

    Partey, 27, joined the Spanish side’s youth academy in 2012 and has gone on to establish himself as an integral part of Diego Simeone’s side since making his debut in 2015.

    In a separate deal, Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreria has joined Atletico Madrid on a season-long loan deal.

    Also, out-of-favour Frenchman Matteo Guendouzi left the Emirates Stadium for Hertha Berlin on loan.