After months of speculation, Thomas Partey finally signed for Arsenal last week The 27-year-old arrived from Atletico Madrid for £ 45million, putting him behind only Nicolas Pepe, Pierre -Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette on the club’s biggest transfer list
Confidence in his ability to deliver to England is unwavering among fans, but what exactly is he likely to offer on the pitch?
Having spent the better part of his career under the direction of Diego Simeone, Partey’s game was designed to be capable of performing a specific brand of football. The Spanish outfit is known for its industrious, strategic and largely defensive principles, and Partey is the product of this style of play.
This is almost certain to change at Arsenal, with Mikel Arteta representing a different and more adventurous style of play that will allow other aspects of Partey’s skills to take center stage.
Analyzing his underlying numbers may give some insight into the Ghanaian player, while also pointing out aspects that could become more important as he plays for the Gunners rather than Simeone
Partey is known for his defensive strength, which is to be expected given Atletico Madrid’s performance as a team
His aerial ability is what stands out the most; some 71 central midfielders racked up more than 1,000 minutes on the pitch in La Liga last season, with Partey leading the way for a successful aerial duel
He wins around 70% of his battles in the air, which has placed him fifth overall once compared to the 300 central midfielders who have played at least 1000 minutes in Europe’s top five leagues.
Standing six feet tall, he was a presence in the center of the park for Simeone, his mobility being an added advantage to add to his physical advantage over his opponents
The biggest change in Partey’s production is likely to come from the offensive side of the game, with Atletico Madrid typically totaling less than 50% of the ball in the Spanish top flight each season
Despite the defensive nature of Simeone’s squad, Partey presented elements of what fans are likely to see more of in the Emirates
First of all, he’s an avid dribbler; Of the 71 aforementioned central midfielders in La Liga, Partey has placed 17th in 90-ended dribbling, and it’s reasonable to suggest that – with greater freedom – Partey will be even more inclined to speak out in the Emirates. , and the story should be the same in the passing department
Partey’s possession game is quite underrated, as he comes across as a capable contributor when it comes to advancing his team on the pitch
The long passes he shows off sporadically could be more highlighted now that he has changed his setting, with an example shown below from a recent fight against Villarreal
In addition, Partey is more inclined than many think to play progressive passes; he placed seventh in La Liga against the sample of 71 midfielders last season, behind controlling players such as Toni Kroos and Sergio Busquets
Not only does the Ghana international have aggressive and purposeful characteristics, but he can play when the ball is at his feet
He doesn’t seem particularly involved when his teammates wrap shots in the final third, but when it comes to the middle third, Partey has a pretty dominant hold
His tendency to play casual passes is usually the closest he gets to registering a goal or an assist, although it is worth noting that he posted two assists for Ghana on Monday against the Qatar
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The numbers paint a picture of a dominant player in the air and now that he’s about to be deployed by a coach who has a greater interest in keeping and using the ball he should have a better platform to show off your dribbling skills and somewhat surprising range of passing
Partey will arrive with a reputation for effort, protection and safety, but it may be a matter of time before he is recognized as one of England’s most complete players
Arsenal FC, Thomas Partey, Atlético Madrid, Premier League, Mikel Arteta, Manchester City FC
World news – AU – Thomas Partey can become one of the best players in the Premier League
SOURCE: https://www.w24news.com