Arsenal’s midfield received a much welcome boost on transfer deadline day as Thomas Partey joined the club from Atletico Madrid.
After weeks of negotiations, the Gunners finally bit the bullet and paid the Ghanaian’s release clause of around £45m.
With Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi both leaving on loan deals on Monday, Partey is welcome addition to Mikel Arteta’s side.
The 27-year-old arrives with a wealth of experience in the Champions League and La Liga, as well as being a seasoned international with Ghana.
But where will he slot in at the Emirates Stadium among Mikel Arteta's top four hopefuls?
Bernd Leno is of course Arsneal’s no. 1, while Gabriel and David Luiz are arguably Mikel Arteta’s first choice centre-backs.
Thomas Partey will likely cover them in a defensive-midfield role, while Dani Ceballos and Bukayo Saka play alongside him in the middle.
And in attack, Nicolas Pepe or Willian plays on the right, club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the left, and Alexandre Lacazette will lead the line.
On signing Partey, technical director Edu said: “Thomas has all the right attributes to be a top player for Arsenal. He is a leader on and off the pitch and he is exactly the kind of player and person we want at the club. We already feel like we know Thomas very well based on the work we have done analysing his performances closely in recent times.
"With his all-round game and positive aggressive style, he will be a brilliant addition to our squad. We’ve made a strong start to the season and we want to continue to build on this with Thomas now part of our club.”
While Mikel Arteta added: “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.”
.jpg?w=600)
