Gunnersaurus out, Thomas Partey in. Or, perhaps more accurately, Lucas Torreira out, Partey in.
The swap of sorts with Atletico Madrid, taking the Uruguayan to Spain on loan and making the Ghanaian a Gunner at a cost of £45 million ($58.2m), brought a belated conclusion to a summer saga. Arsenal's deadline-day business brought them bad publicity, but also a very good player.
Mikel Arteta wanted a midfield upgrade. Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi, who appeared Arsenal's future in the centre of the park under Unai Emery, departed on loan after flattering to deceive.
Arsenal's inability to sell either, Sead Kolasinac or Sokratis Papastathopoulos, let alone Mesut Ozil, prompts the question if they have overstretched financially to placate their precocious manager. That it reportedly annoyed Diego Simeone when Arsenal triggered his late release clause is an added bonus.
Arsenal’s contrasting shortlist was reduced to Houssem Aouar and Partey and, while the Lyon player would have added more creativity, Partey’s physicality feels more important.
Certainly it renders him more of a direct replacement for Torreira. His competitive instincts equipped him to flourish for Simeone’s Atletico, and an accumulation of 16 cautions last season shows his style of play.
Only six players averaged more tackles per game in last season’s Champions League; one of them, Allan, has made an immediate impact in the Premier League. “With his all-round game and positive aggressive style, he will be a brilliant addition to our squad,” said Arsenal technical director Edu. Arteta added: “He is a dynamic midfielder with great energy.”
Both he and Edu were known more for their technique than their power, but while Arteta is shaping a side in his own image, it reflects a managerial steel rather than the silk he displayed in his playing career. Arteta has toughened Arsenal up, as their results against top teams show and, in the best possible sense, Partey could be unpleasant to play against.
Simeone’s Atletico often were. Partey modelled much of his game on his compatriot Michael Essien and arguably Arsenal have not had a player of Essien’s capabilities and ability since Patrick Vieira left.
Welcome to the Partey! 🥳
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 5, 2020
👋 @Thomaspartey22#NoThomasNoPartey pic.twitter.com/009Er2kZBK
Partey definitely offers more ball-winning ability and pace than Granit Xhaka and Dani Ceballos. The Swiss and the Spaniard have formed an effective partnership under Arteta, as a record of 10 wins in 14 when they team up indicates, but the success of counter-attacking tactics have come from the cleverness of camouflaging individual weaknesses in a way that has been simultaneously imaginative and pragmatic.
Arteta’s 3-4-3 formation offered safety in numbers at the back, which has been required considering who some of Arsenal’s central defenders are. They have invariably had a minority of possession against elite sides, who have often fielded more forceful, speedier midfields.
But the suggestions are that, like his mentor Pep Guardiola, he would rather play 4-3-3. Partey does not promise perpetual possession or metronomically accurate passing – and perhaps the eventual aim would be to ally him with Aouar, who offers more goals and assists – but he does offer the possibility of more ball-winning ability higher up the field.
So, too, does Willian, another of Arteta’s recruits. If each has the attributes to help Arsenal break quickly, they could also enable them to play more on the front foot.
Willian’s influence was a reason for his recruitment. There are signs Arsenal see Partey as a similar character. It was notable that Edu said: “He is a leader on and off the pitch.”
Arsenal’s youngsters, and Arteta’s proteges, like Bukayo Saka, should benefit. But the true test of the most expensive central midfielder in Arsenal’s history will be whether he can lead them back into the Champions League.
