Manchester United legend Roy Keane has delivered his verdict on Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey.
The £45m summer signing from Atletico Madrid played a starring role as the Gunners beat the Red Devils 1-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday evening thanks to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's penalty.
Partey - on his first away start in the Premier League - partnered Mohamed Elneny in the middle of the park and was one of several Arsenal players to emerge with huge praise.
Keane's former United teammate Gary Neville named Gabriel Magalhaes as the best player on the pitch and also spoke highly of Rob Holding on his surprise return from injury.
However, Keane was very impressed with the performance of Partey.
So much so that he's predicted that the 27-year-old could go on to emulate Gunners legend Patrick Vieira and admitted Partey is a player he wished was at United.
"Brilliant. We said before the game, this guy is no mug, he's played at big clubs, in big competitions and we saw it today," Keane said on Sky Sports.
"When you watch a player live - that’s when you can judge a player.
"The more I look at him, I wish he was in Man United’s midfield; big, strong and aggressive.
"I go back to my battles with Patrick Vieira, I think this kid’s got a chance of matching what Patrick used to do because he’s big, he’s strong, he’s aggressive, and he likes to pass a football forward.
"He can deal with the ball, he looks comfortable on the ball - just little details - a bit of composure, good first touch and retaining possession, that’s the aim of the game."
Fellow Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp also heaped praise on Partey and noticed what manager Mikel Arteta had done at Old Trafford to get the three points.
"They were so well organised, if you looked at the two teams and how they were set up, you had an understanding of what Arsenal were trying to do," he added.
"It was almost as if with United, they were shoehorning players in to try and get the big players into the team which doesn’t always work.
"They had an energy, a desire about them to get the ball back. They were just better in every single department.
"At the back, Gabriel was magnificent, Partey was the best player on the pitch and he looks like an incredible signing for them.
"What Mikel Arteta is doing is so good and they were the far better side tonight."
