Thomas Partey - the footballer: Page 37 - The Arsenal discussion community: One More in the Tolly

Thomas Partey - the footballer

samthegooner

Claudius 100%. I was impressed at how we accommodated two substandard athletes in the midfield in Partey and Jorginho on Sunday. In settled play, I felt pretty confident throughout that we would not concede and after a few misplaced passes in the first half, we really didn't give them any transition opportunities. It definitely seems as though when we have Jorginho and Partey in the team, we don't invert the fullbacks as often, if at all, and Timber/White were both great at picking their moments to go forward or stay deep. Honestly, I'm okay with Partey losing a step but I hope that he tightens up his simple passing in upcoming games.

Big Willie

Think Partey has adjusted his game recently tbh. He's playing a lot safer than he normally does and ends up going back and sideways much more often these days. Seems like he's either not back to full fitness/confidence or that he's realised he needs to adapt his game to suit his changing physical abilities.

The only other reasons I can think of would Arteta instructions. Either Arteta instructed him to make these changes because he realised the same thing as mentioned above, or that the team needs something different to what it did in 22/23 and instructed Partey to adapt to it.

lorddulaarsenal

Appears to have a more upright posture when running

MistaT

What’s stemming all the recent press and coverage?

Don’t think it’s been his gameplay which I’ve found a touch above average.

RowJimmy

MistaT
I thought it was an OMITT thing, not a press thing.

Big Willie

Dunno really. He hasn't been anything special tbh. I mean he's been ok I guess, but nothing to warrantgetting excited about. If at his absolute best he's a 9 or so, so far since coming bsck into the team he's been a 5.5 or so, and that's coming from someone who is a huge fan of his unique skillset.

I'd actually prefer him to be more like his old self and not play so safe, even if it means losing the ball from deep a bit more as it'll give us more early options to get at the defence before they've settled. If he continues playing like this it's only a matter of time before he gets displaced from the team as Rice/Merino can easily replicate this basic/safe version of whilst offering up much more physically and off the ball.

Tam

He loses the ball from deep often enough as it is, you certainly don't want him doing it any more.

It's strange, he's very good at receiving the ball on the turn and moving away from a press, but he's absolutely terrible at being square on and is generally oblivious to what is around him.

JazzG

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert I don't think Rice can receive on the half turn so effortlessly, taking two or three players out in the process.

Rice doesn't need to that, while Partey is a lot better on the ball Rice is a lot better defensively. What we needed is someone to compliment Rice and hopefully Merino is that guy.

samthegooner

JazzG A lot the highlights of Merino from last year were doing exactly that - getting a ball played into his feet with someone on his back and using small feints or quick croquetas to turn the defender and either progress up the pitch himself or move the ball on quickly. I think he will fit perfectly next to Rice but will wait to see how it looks once he's healthy.

Qwiss

JazzG I hope I'm wrong but I reckon Merino has a lot of the same strengths and weaknesses as Rice. I think next summer we'll still be in the market for a number 6. Or at least we'll all be hoping we are.

Claudius

Qwiss I hope we are in market for an 8. I want us to get one of Musiala or Wirtz.

Burnwinter

Qwiss After our nett zero summer I'm pretty sure we'll give Rice a good trial at 6, since I'm also pretty sure Merino has been signed as an 8, and I'm also pretty sure we'll go fishing for the elusive 6 again ... but it might be a case of a marquee winger or striker versus a 6.

Gazza M

Qwiss he's much more deft on the turn, dribble and with his forward passing. trust, we'll see it soon emough

goon

Claudius

Agree with this. Think people need to let go of the Partey styled ‘Rolls Royce’ 6. We have loads of players who can progress the ball from the back. We need more who can receive it and do something with it in the last two thirds.

daredevil

Claudius

If not, then Brahim Diaz or Arder Guler.

samthegooner

Claudius It's Wirtz for me. He's an output king and would singlehandedly take our attack to the next level. Of course, I wouldn't turn down Musiala but given the choice, I would love Wirtz. If we had Wirtz and Odegaard ahead of Rice, we wouldn't have to worry about ball progression with Rice - he could simply do the things he does best in shielding the defense, winning balls across the pitch and popping up for some long shots.

QuincyAbeyie

I think we need to let go of the idea too, but not because it wouldn't be incredible to have one. Prime Partey was simply a unicorn. It's a miracle that nobody else signed him for 50m, but unfortunately he started being injury-prone not long after we got him. Don't think that's something we could've identified, so we're probably just unlucky in this case.

samthegooner

Gazza M I love the little behind the back croquetas (not sure if that's the best way to describe them but that's what they look like to me) that he uses when receiving with a player on his back. I'm sure he's not always as successful with them as it looks in his highlights but those turns completely take out the defender and then he's moving up the pitch either on the dribble or with a progressive pass.

Sicario2 - Tier 1

Was a warrior today. Spring in his step and dare I say it looked quite athletic.

So important for Gabriel and Saliba that this guy is in front of them.

Claudius

Sicario2 - Tier 1 not just in front, he’s constantly dropping in as a third CB basically. He’s putting in a shift. We do need MLS and Jorginho to step up though

JazzG

Sicario2 - Tier 1 Spring in his step and dare I say it looked quite athletic.

If he's got his legs back then that is a game changer for us, he defo did look a lot lighter on his feet than he has in recent weeks. Maybe it is just a fitness thing?

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