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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Samuel Meade

Ian Wright hails key Arsenal "game changer" as Gunners continue winning run

Arsenal's Thomas Partey has been hailed as a "game changer" by Ian Wright after he put in another excellent display.

The summer signing has been absent for large periods this term, but once again showcased his class in the 3-1 win over Southampton.

Partey has been singled out for his progressive passing which has been driving Arsenal forward.

A lack of creativity had been a major problem before Arsenal turned the corner and Wright believes the Ghanaian's ambition in attack is helping the likes of Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe prosper.

He told Premier League Productions: "He’s (Partey) a game-changer simply because of the way he plays in midfield. He’s somebody who does not pass the ball sideways.

Arsenal are in an excellent run of form (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

"He wants to pass it forwards and that gets everybody forwards.

"If you’ve got people like Emile Smith Rowe and Saka in the area where they can pick up the ball and go forwards, run with it and progress it then all of a sudden you’ve got their defenders going backwards.

"You’ve got people starting to make runs and you are starting to create which we weren’t doing a few weeks back."

The Gunners came from behind to win at St Mary's as their charge up the table continued.

Mikel Arteta saw his side go winless for almost two months in the league, but they have since turned things round.

Thomas Partey's influence has been praised (Getty Images)

Arsenal have won five of their past six in the league and are just five points off West Ham in fourth.

Saka was one of Arsenal's three goal scorers at St Mary's with Nicolas Pepe and Alexandre Lacazette also getting in on the act.

Arteta though is not concerned about their rise up the table and instead is focused on keeping up their winning run.

"I don't want to look at the table," said the Spaniard.

"I want to look at ourselves, how we can get better, the reason we are playing better and winning football matches."

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