Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has hinted that Thomas Partey is ready to make his first start for the club.
The Ghana midfielder made his debut from the bench in Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Manchester City.
After completing a £45 million move to the Emirates from Atletico Madrid on deadline day, Partey joined up with the Ghana squad, leaving him with limited training time with his new Arsenal teammates.
But after coming on against City, Partey's display impressed Arteta and appears to have thrusted him into contention to play against Rapid Wien on Thursday evening.
"He reacted really well, he came on and look strong and confident [against Man City] and he added something positive to the team," Arteta said.
"It was a very short turnaround for him since he joined the team, he had a day, a day-and-a-half only in training.
"He has done a few more training sessions and he looks ready to start."
If Partey does indeed get the nod alongside Granit Xhaka, Mohamed Elneny or Joe Willock, his former manager at Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has already given Arsenal an outline of the midfielder's best qualities and how he should be utilised.
Simeone claims Partey should be given a box-to-box role where he can influence the game in both halves of the pitch by dictating the transitional phases during matches.
"Thomas is the one who best understands this position and the transition from defence to attack, shooting, scoring, providing assists and playing passes between the lines," Simeone said in June.
"When he's at his best level consistently, he's so good that all the best teams in Europe are looking at him."
Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy also thinks Partey will make a big difference to Arsenal.
“I think Arteta’s recruitment in the summer was also hugely impressive,” Murphy told the Football Index podcast.
“I think Partey will be huge and it’s an area that the club has been vulnerable in for quite some time.
“He will provide the athleticism and tenacity in midfield that they have been missing in the middle of the pitch.
“I’m glad Ceballos is back again on loan and he shows a lot of attacking intent with his passes.
“Gabriel has also slotted into central defence and he looks like the real deal in the Premier League already.”
