Mikel Arteta facing £45m Arsenal Thomas Partey transfer dilemma following an impressive performance against Chelsea…

Mikel Arteta is currently facing a tough decision regarding the potential £45m transfer of Thomas Partey to Arsenal.

Despite Partey’s standout performance in the Gunners’ recent 5-0 victory over Chelsea, the Ghanaian international may still be on the verge of leaving the club this summer.

It appears that Thomas Partey’s future at Arsenal remains uncertain, despite his strong performance in the recent 5-0 victory over Chelsea. The club has been looking to offload him for quite some time now, with attempts made last summer to sell him without success.

This summer, Arsenal seems to be considering similar options, with potential replacements like Martin Zubimendi being considered, and a contract extension for Jorginho being discussed.

However, it seems that manager Mikel Arteta is keen on retaining Partey at the club.

The arrival of Declan Rice, breaking the club’s record, led many to believe that it would mark the end of Partey’s career at Arsenal. Rice is considered a long-term asset in the midfield, so the question arose of how the two could possibly coexist. However, Arteta was confident that he had the solution.

Back in July, when asked if the pair could play together, Arteta stated, “They were in my plans. If we want to enhance the squad and have more quality, we need players who can play together and compete for their positions. This is something we have lacked in recent years.”

Arteta had the opportunity to showcase the potential of this midfield combination early on. Partey, Rice, and Martin Odegaard excelled in the Community Shield match against Manchester City, proving that they could hold their own against top competition. It was a glimpse into the future, albeit a short-lived one.

Unfortunately, injuries in other areas of the squad forced Partey to play as a right back, and before we could witness the midfield trio again, Partey himself suffered an injury. There was a brief moment of hope when Partey, Rice, and Odegaard combined to secure another victory against City in October, but this turned out to be their last appearance together for the next seven months.

The effectiveness displayed against Chelsea raises questions about what could have been. Partey and Rice appeared to complement each other seamlessly. Rice’s finesse on the ball, which Partey sometimes lacks, is balanced by the Ghanaian’s athleticism and mobility, qualities that Rice may not possess. With Rice freed from a purely defensive role, Arsenal managed to stifle their opponents by consistently winning the ball high up the pitch.

Odegaard, on the other hand, thrived in his freedom to orchestrate play in the attacking third. His assist for Kai Havertz’s second goal was a standout moment of the match.

Arteta, observing from the sidelines, must have been rueing his luck at not having this trio at his disposal throughout the season. Or maybe not…

“We might have won every game,” he quipped post-match. “But considering our current form and points tally, maybe not.”

We have been without Thomas since August, and he is a key player for us. However, this absence has provided opportunities for other players. Declan has transitioned from playing as a No.6 to excelling as a No.8. Kai has also been utilized as a No.9, and Jorgi’s contribution has been truly outstanding.

The team possesses a wealth of resources and must explore various ways to secure victories by leveraging and rotating their strengths. I am genuinely pleased with our progress.

He has every reason to feel content. Not too long ago, Partey was the linchpin of the Arsenal team. Now, he is more like a vital organ – the team is undoubtedly stronger with him, but he is not indispensable.

There will be discussions about the midfield that could have been showcased in this match, but Arteta is focused on the potential of his midfield. The options available in the center of the pitch are arguably the finest in the Premier League. Which other team can claim to have a player of Jorginho’s caliber as a third-choice defensive midfielder, or a talent like Emile Smith Rowe as a backup No. 8?