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Arsenal left late but were re-entered by Atlético de Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey.
Partey has been on the Gunners’ radar all summer, but they had refused to honor his £ 45 million release clause.
Now the Premier League team is back in the frame to sign him before the Monday 11pm deadline.
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Partey drew attention against Liverpool last season
While the Gunners would be delighted to land one of their targets, Liverpool fans will especially get sick seeing it.
The Atlético midfielder put on a dominant display against the Reds in the Champions League last season.
Arsenal seem determined to land him after missing Houssem Aouar and so what is the latest news and why are they so interested in the Ghana star? take a look at talkSPORT.com.
What is the gossip?
The Gunners are reportedly willing to pay £ 45 million to trigger Partey’s release clause despite being reluctant to do so all summer long.
Mikel Arteta has been making room on his squad to allow Arsenal to bring in the defensive midfielder.
Matteo Guendouzi joined Hertha Berlin on a one-season loan after fighting Arteta amid concerns about his attitude.
Meanwhile, Lucas Torreira could swap places with Partey as the Uruguayan is expected to join Atlético on loan.
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Thomas Partey could head to Arsenal
Partey is a childhood Gunners fan and has spoken publicly about his desire to play for England one day.
According to The Athletic, Partey was desperate to join Unai Emery’s then-team last summer, but the club was unwilling to pay the exit fee.
In an interview with ESPN last summer, the Ghana international said: “The Premier League is a good league, it is very competitive and has some of the best players in the world,” he admitted.
“Hopefully one day. I’d like to play there. My agents are on it, so I’ll drop everything for them.”
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Partey has made no secret of his desire to play in the Premier League
What kind of player is he?
The starting role has evolved over the years, so much so that the classic box-to-box midfielder is a growing rarity.
Most teams divide midfield responsibilities between two, or maybe three, players these days, but Partey does it all.
The Ghanaian’s stats reveal a complete midfielder who is equally capable in both defense and attack.
In last season’s Champions League, Partey averaged 3.6 tackles per game and 1.5 interceptions, providing excellent protection for all four of his defenders.
Then in attack, he makes 1.6 key passes and completes nearly two dribbles for 90, which is pretty impressive for someone in his position.
Partey can also keep things going. He was making more than 60 passes per game in the Champions League this season.
All of those qualities were on display when he dominated Liverpool’s midfield during a 1-0 win at the Wanda Metropolitano in February.
The 27-year-old is one of the main reasons Diego Simeone’s team has been so solid on defense since their appearance in 2015.
And the more you look at it, the more you realize that less than 45 million pounds is a real bargain in today’s market.
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45 million pounds gives you a complete midfielder
What have the experts said?
Simeone is a huge fan of his Atlético mainstay and will no doubt be desperately disappointed if Partey leaves this summer.
In January 2019, the Argentine coach claimed that the midfielder could easily have played for either of Manchester’s two big clubs.
The Argentine said: “Thomas is an incredible player. He could have played for Manchester City [or] Manchester United.
“We are talking about a great player here. I rate it very well. “
Simeone also believes that Partey has gone unnoticed because he came from Ghana and went through the Atleti academy.
“I could say so many things [about Thomas], but with some I have to shut up ”, said Simeone in October of last year.
“I am very happy with Thomas.
“If I had come from an English or German team, I would be [lauded] But it’s from the academy and it’s just Thomas.
“He has been working for many years, non-stop.”
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Simeone acknowledges that Partey is underestimated by the world of football
How would you fit in at Arsenal?
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was not a fan of Matteo Guendouzi or Lucas Torreira, while Granit Xhaka’s troubles at the Emirates are well documented.
Real Madrid’s Dani Ceballos rejoined on loan, but midfield depth was one of Arteta’s priorities.
In short, Arsenal desperately need a player like Partey.
The club has been criticized for its defensive weaknesses in recent seasons, but Gunners legend Sol Campbell believes his real problem lies in midfield.
He told talkSPORT earlier this season: “For me, it’s game control. The middle of the park is where they are missing.
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Partey is exactly what Campbell thinks is missing at Arsenal
“Toughness and balance just don’t exist. It is the middle of the park, you win or lose many games there.
“You can have a strong back or a strong front, but if you don’t have a really solid midfield then the forwards go too deep because they don’t feed and the defenders do too much.
“You receive less attacks against you [with a stronger midfield]Because you control the game more and you have more of the ball.
“You win second balls and you don’t give away silly fouls. Yes, you have to fix the back. But in the middle of the park, they have to find someone solid. “
Partey is that man, he has been doing that same job at Atlético de Madrid for years and is now in his prime at 27.
Buildlineup.com
How Arsenal could line up with Thomas Partey
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