Arsenal already have one midfielder who’s ‘better than anybody’, even Declan Rice

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Former striker Kevin Campbell has sung the praises of Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey.

Thomas Partey has hardly featured for Arsenal this season. Injuries have restricted the Ghanaian to just five appearances across all competitions. He hasn’t represented the north London club on the pitch since making an appearance off the bench against Manchester City back in early October.

However, there is no denying that when fully fit and at his best, Partey is a top class midfielder. The 30-year-old excels in transitioning from defence into attack. He can patrol the middle of the park, protecting the Gunners’ back four, and then when he receives the ball in tight spaces he is capable of turning and progressing possession forwards up the pitch.

Mikel Arteta has certainly missed having Partey at his disposal for such a sizeable chunk of the current campaign. Whilst Declan Rice has been a revelation at Arsenal since his arrival from West Ham United in the recent summer transfer window, the Spanish coach has been hugely reliant upon him to play virtually every minute.

Whilst Jorginho is an able back up option who brings valuable experience to the squad, he has his flaws as a player. Equally, Mohamed Elneny has had his injury issues this season, and is not of the required standard to feature regularly for a side with title-winning ambitions.

Former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell has his say on Thomas Partey

It would be a huge boost for Arsenal if Partey could come back and play a key role in the second half of the campaign. However, the fact he has been left out of the Ghana squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations competition due to the extent of his current injury suggests that we won’t be available for Arsenal for some time yet.

On top of that, the former Atletico Madrid man’s future at the Emirates Stadium is in doubt, as he has been linked with an exit. It would be understandable if Arteta were keen to cut ties with Partey due to his lack of availability. 

Former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell, though, does not think it should be forgotten how good a player Partey is. Speaking on Highbury Squad, he said, “we were licking our lips thinking of Declan Rice beside Thomas Partey, but because Thomas Partey wasn’t there and Declan Rice was doing such a great job, we didn’t miss him.”

“The fact of the matter is, when Thomas Partey is fit, he is a starter in our first 11. No matter what people say about he’s injury-prone and all this kind of thing, yeah he’s struggled with injury.”

“But, when he’s fit, there’s no better midfielder in that side, especially in the holding one, than Thomas Partey because the way Thomas Partey plays – Thomas Partey knows how to play that position better than anybody.”

It is hard to say definitively who is a better player between Partey and Rice. However, Rice’s comparative youth, clean injury record, and recent form all serve to prove that he represents the future of the club. Partey’s time may well be past.