Thomas Partey has been one of Arsenal’s best players this season.
The Ghana international has had several injury issues since he joined the Gunners in 2020. He played less than 900 minutes of football in the 2023/24 campaign.
However, since the start of this season, Partey has been available more often than not, and the former Atletico Madrid man’s performances have been really good.
Partey started Arsenal’s recent Premier League clash against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. Troy Deeney seems impressed with his display.
Troy Deeney hails Arsenal star Thomas Partey
Partey came under a bit of criticism in the first few games of the season.
The 31-year-old seemed to have lost a bit of pace, and he didn’t look as sharp as before when trying to close down distances.
However, Partey has gone up a level since those early struggles. He has mostly looked fantastic in the middle of the park, and although it’s not his natural position, he has done a decent job at right-back too whenever he has played there.
Deeney watched Partey play against Crystal Palace, and he was really impressed. The pundit included him in his Team of the Week on BBC Sport and even gave him a new nickname – Mr Reliable!
He wrote: “He is becoming Arsenal’s Mr Reliable. Put him at centre-half, it doesn’t matter, put him a right-back and it doesn’t matter, holding midfielder and it doesn’t matter.
“He just plays where the team need him, goes about his business relatively quietly and he helped Arsenal get a huge win against Palace.”
Arsenal’s stance as Partey enters the final months of his contract
Partey will enter the final six months of his Arsenal contract on New Year’s Day.
Extending the contract of a player who will be 32 in the summer always seems like a risky move, especially if he has a history of muscular injuries.
However, Partey has mostly been available all season and his performances have been excellent as well, especially in the middle of the park.
That’s why Arsenal are thinking about extending his stay at the club.
Arsenal Insider sources revealed in October that Arsenal are considering a two-year contract offer for Partey to keep him at the Emirates beyond next summer.
The 31-year-old is happy in London too and is open to staying at Arsenal.
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