Arsenal have done a splendid job of keeping their best players this summer. Through a series of rejecting bids and ensuring contract extensions, Mikel Arteta has completed the task of looking stronger this season than last season.
One of the key players in midfield who the Gunners have managed to keep is one of their most crucial players, Thomas Partey. The Ghanaian midfielder who impressed throughout all of last season was linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, but the club opted not to sell him and rightly so.
In Arsenal’s opening fixture of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign against Nottingham Forest, he was one of the best players on the pitch. Alongside the new midfield signing Declan Rice, Partey looks even better than he did last season, despite it still being early days.
Mikel Arteta dubs Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey as NOT for sale to any club
According to a report from Express, Mikel Arteta has made it clear and final that Thomas Partey is not up for sale to any club. This is despite the interest from the Saudi Pro League, alongside interested parties Fenerbahce and Juventus.
Arsenal have already lost one midfielder this summer in Granit Xhaka. This departure was sad, certainly, but it was understandable. Xhaka left on good terms after turning his career around and now the Gunners have strengthened their squad by signing Rice.
Unlike the Xhaka deal, selling Partey would not make sense. Firstly, Partey plays a more important role to Arsenal in the defensive midfield zone. His workrate and intercepting ability is second to none and could not be replicated without a huge fee being paid. Secondly, as mentioned, Partey complements the signing of Rice, so to keep him is the best possible decision for Arsenal.
What has been your favourite memory of Thomas Partey in North London?