Thomas Partey‘s recent comments have highlighted how important it is for Mikel Arteta to sign a midfield partner to create a pivot alongside the Ghanaian.
A lot of pressure has been put on Partey since he signed for the club in a £45m deal from Atletico Madrid, as he has been tasked with leading the midfield.
However, he has struggled with form recently, which has put the lack of support around him to light, showing that the club must sign an extra midfielder.
And Partey’s recent comments suggest the lack of help too after he admitted that he must find the best version of himself.
Speaking after the defeat to Manchester United, he said: "The team is improving, each and everyone is doing our best."
“For me, I have to keep on doing my best, keep trying, keep improving, try to come back to my best, because the team needs me, the team needs us.”
Since joining the club in 2020, Partey has shown glimpses of excellence, but not at the same level of quality performances he was putting in towards the end of his time at Atletico Madrid.
A major reason for this could be due to the supporting cast around him at Arsenal, compared to his previous club.
The match against Manchester United was certainly his worst performance since his arrival. His partner for that match was Mohammed Elneny, who looks set to leave the club in the summer, after being deemed to surplus to requirements by Arteta.
Albert Sambi Lokonga and Ainsley Maitland Niles have been the partners of Partey this season to cover for the injured Granit Xhaka.
Despite the potential that both midfielders possess, they do not have the same quality that the Ghanaian was accustomed to at Atletico Madrid.
Two years ago, Partey had bossed proceedings against Liverpool at Anfield in the Champions League round of 16 whilst playing alongside Saul Niguez and Koke.
Arsenal have been strongly linked to midfielders such as Franck Kessie, who would be an excellent addition to the side and would certainly give Partey more support in the midfield.
He wasn’t the focal point of the middle of the park at Atletico Madrid and he shouldn’t be at Arsenal, which makes signing a central midfielder pivotal in the upcoming transfer windows.
Source: football.london