Is there good reason to prefer Rice over Partey? by Mr Munday
Over the course of the last season Arsenal played some incredible football and were rightly lauded with praise from all quarters.
Ødegaard, Saka, Saliba and Zinchenko were probably the four players that received the most consistent plaudits for their outstanding displays on the field. Yet ask any proper Arsenal fan and they will tell you that Arsenal were only ever at their very best when the midfield mastermind Thomas Partey was on form.
Yes, on form, Partey protected the defence, linked defence and attack with fluid brilliance, picked out killer passes and even provided a long-distance goal threat with his terrifying hammer boot that sends the ball harder and faster in a straight line than I can remember anyone ever hitting a ball before.
Indeed, Arsenal were at their unstoppable oppressive pinnacle in 22/23 when the opposition no longer knew where to place themselves and who to mark to shut out the threat. Spread yourselves too evenly and the craft of the Arsenal players would find a way to work through and slot it in, but hold yourselves too far back and you risked being on the receiving end of one of Thomas “Thor” Partey’s thunderbolts. In those moments Arsenal simply felt irresistible.
Rice, for all his industry and tactical nous, still seems a long way off being able to produce the type of masterful displays that we have come to know from Partey. However, there is another side to our favourite Ghanaian footballer that fans of the clubs he has played for can’t help but notice – sometimes he just simply goes missing altogether.
Many griped and groaned about the time he spent out injured, of how we needed a player that was more consistently present on the field of play rather than warming a bench. For that he can hardly be blamed, but one can raise question marks over his character and performance during matches where he has in fact been amongst the on-field eleven, but one has the feeling that he might as well not even have been there at all.
Many fans are of the opinion that had Partey continued his scintillating form through to the end of the season or at least managed to reproduce something near the type of performance level we know that he can, then we would have had a far greater chance of winning our first title in two decades.
True, Saliba’s injury greatly affected the team in terms of defensive solidity but Partey’s form falling off a cliff was just as much a cause of our decline in my opinion. Knowing how fantastic he can be, Arteta persisted with him until it became clear that he wasn’t going to get his mojo back. By the end he was but a pale shadow of the man that we had seen earlier on in the campaign.
This is not new for the player, either, for Diego Simeone and Atletico fans will tell you that they know the curious nature of Partey’s complex and mercurial talent – they let him go for the same reason of inconsistency.
Atletico have not yet managed to replace his skillset and many fear that Arsenal too will find it hard to fill the void he leaves behind if they do usher him out of the door. However, in signing Declan Rice we have the man that will fight tooth and nail to do so and has every chance of succeeding.
Added to Partey’s inconsistency and injury problems, there has also emerged the ugly story of criminal charges against him that cannot have helped him at all in playing his best football on a regular basis. One got the feeling that his head was elsewhere.
Rice, on the other hand, is the complete opposite of the Ghanaian in this respect. He has chosen to stay in London to be surrounded by the solid and supportive family he loves, he has his head squarely on his shoulders and he is a consistent performer. Rarely injured, he gives his all every game, showing incredible stamina and that relentlessness of persistence that fits so well with what has become the trademark style of “Artetaball”.
Arteta is forging a character and resilience to this team that we have not seen at the club since the likes of Adams and Keown departed. All of that combined with an intelligence of play that makes us very hard to beat.
Seen this way, despite not quite being able to match Partey’s level of skill when at his best, Rice is quite possibly a better fit in terms of the spirit that the manager wants to instil in his players.
The impressive young man is known for his loveable and positive personality, for having been a huge influence in the West Ham dressing room, and is seen as a serious candidate for future England captain as well as Arsenal skipper.
On top of his obvious qualities as a player, these rare character traits are part of what have made Rice’s price tag quite so high.
In the long run I’m sure all concerned will look back and see it as a very wise investment indeed.
Mr Munday
Love at Rice’s you tube tackles holds & runs with the ball better than Partey
I know statistics don’t tell the whole story but they have a role to play. It would have been nice if the writer of this article provided some statistics in the Rice Vs Partey comparison.
Nice idea but gathering evidence takes time and needs to support what is being said. Most writers prefer just to give an opinion and pretend that they are experts……then they don’t have to use facts!!
This is why 97% of transfer stories end up being wrong and no football journalist has ever been a manager, let a lone a successful manager of a pro football club!
Rice is taller and seems to have a better stamina, but I think Partey/ Jorginho have better close control and are more skilled
If he fails as a CDM, we know that Arteta could always convert him into an AM or CB
I agree, except I can’t see him being an AM (I’m thinking you mean like a classic no10 sort of player), and my understanding is that he’s highly resistant to the idea of being a CB (though I think he could be a brilliant one). If he’s not able to play the DM role like partey of jorginho, I suspect he’ll play a role similar to xhaka – I think he’s probably best suited to that kind of box to box ‘support’ role tbh.
I really think that point about partey and jorginho being more skilled is the crucial one. The fact that defenders could practically smash passes into partey, and he could control the ball and either move or pass into space so consistently is what really made the team click. I struggle to see how we can play out from the back as effectively as we did last season if partey leaves, and rice takes his place. But we’ll see – I do expect to be proven wrong, as either rice will exceed my expectations or arteta will tweak the system to make it work.
I mean he could play the left AM role as Xhaka did
I’m also curious to see how Rice would fare in the CDM position. Luckily, we’ve still got Jorginho and Elneny if Rice flops in deep-midfield area
Gai, watch how Rice plays with Kalvin Philips or Jude Belinham for England he is good at CDM. I would have preferred midfield trio of
Rice– Jorginho– Odegard for steel in the midfield because of physical oppositions. But the Havertz won’t be benched.
Ah I think we’re just using different terms for that ‘xhaka role’ – I’d describe it as a box to box cm, but it doesn’t matter
Another attractive and wise piece from this welcome new writer.
What most struck me as VITALLY IMPORTANT was the word “consistent”.
Consistency is of PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE in any top level side . Consistent talent easily trumps top play, but with slack periods happening regularly. Consistency brings RELIABILITY and is thus the single MOST necessary quality in ANY REAL top level player.
I do seem to remember about halfway through the season people questioning why rice was so highly rated – is he really that consistent, or did he just finish the season strongly? That is a genuine question
Yes, he really IS that consistent.
I’ll take your word for it. Definitely agree with your point on consistency – it’s why players like Walcott were never quite convincing. I also think it’s particularly important in defensive positions and the centre midfield roles as it gives you a reliable platform, so you’re always hard to beat, even if the forwards are struggling to score.
Good article which covers the bases very well without the need for stats which are of limited value in my eyes.Partey is certainly a more naturally skilful footballer than Rice, but what the latter may lack in sheer talent he makes up for in the attributes highlighted by Mr.M.I really hope Partey and Rice are paired together in central midfield as I do not believe Havertz will be used in that area but as one of our front three.A midfield trio of Partey, Rice and Odegaard will be a match for most and provide a mixture of physicality,drive,energy and intelligence which should provide us with plenty of possession and protection for our defence.
Having both of them at the club will be great. Don’t sell Partey, pls. Keep him
Arsenal had season-after-season derailed due to injuries for as long as I can remember. So many of our best players spent far more time being treated than actually playing at their proper level, so regardless of whose fault it is or isn’t, the club needs players to actually play football, and therefore being injured all the time is a problem. Would you employ somebody that was good at their job but took 7 months per year off-sick? So as much as I really like Thomas Partey, we need players that are fit, and players that keep their heads in big games under pressure. Seems to me Rice easily wins in that department. Don’t see why Partey can’t be kept as a reserve though, like to replace Elneny?
Arsenal now has two world class players in my opinion, though they are slightly different in their game of play.
They are both tenacious tackler defensively sound , protect and carries the ball well,
Though the Englishman excels in aerial prowess and has added goals to his game.
The Ghanaian thrives in tight spaces with close controls and has Hollywood passes that can only be match by Jorginho.
Arsenal have more than two world-class players please.
Martinelli, Saka, Jesus, Rice and Partey are all world-class except u have another definition of World-class.
HENRY
You opinion is valid, just happens to think they are all very good players, just on the verge of breaking in that elite group of world class players.
Where Rice is fitter than Partey or not will be known only after he plays for Arsenal. Staying fit entire season playing for Westham could be different from doing the same for Arsenal.
It will be nice if Arsenal can keep Partey for another year.
Vithal, WHY do you think it could be differenrt ? Both clubs play Prem football, which is always fierce. Some players are NATURALLY less prone to injury than others.
That is plain when you look at clubs as a whole. Partey has amply shown himself as markedly less consistent than the EXTREMELY consistent Rice.
Either you accept that realism or you choose to ignore it. Your choice!
Trust the process,In Arteta we trust.
This is the most important signing Arsenal need…
I’m so glad they would get him…
I pray it pulls thru…..
Nothing beats the joy of Arsenal having Partey and Rice for rotation in the advanced CB role.
ManCity should be ready for real fight this season!!!
I don’t agree Partey was inconsistent last season or that he was the reason we lost the league..
Actually it was because he wasn’t trusted.. if Saka was equally benched and Nelson made to play in his place just like Jorginho did for Partey as he lost form as well.. we’ll all be saying Saka is inconsistent as well.
So many players lost form at crucial periods like Saka, Zinchenko, Ramsdale and Jesus (if he were ever on form).
I don’t think Rice is an upgrade on Partey though I also don’t think Partey is better. They have different skill sets and should be complementing each other….
But why can’t we use Partey in the Xhaka Role and Rice as CDM
From what I know Partey is even more technical than Xhaka n Rice
Patey is one of by best midfielders in the whole universe.
Arteta should talk with him to stay for at least one season..
We have built something that has worked already, next season let’s build upon it & not tinker the process 😭
Partey is great servant to the club, especially for the past 2 seasons under Arteta. Never complains, always follows his coach’s instructions to the best he can. Rarely fouls or get bookings. But I think Thomas Partey will never reach his full fitness because of his fragile thigh muscles. Perhaps his body will cope better with warmer climate.
Can the writer just enjoy having had Partey play for Arsenal and now going to get Rice to do same? Take a look at the Games which were our deciders and tell us exactly how it was Partey’s fault?
We all wish Rice the best but if he even gets to be 50% the player Partey is, England and not only Arsenal will win trophies.
I am in Kenya and I have followed Arsenal for the longest I can remember in my age.
I love the signings so far. Can we include Chikweze in our wings wish list! Don’t let Partey and Belagun leave.
Give Belagun the space he needs, plus his wallet. Let us not repeat the Nabry mistake. Let us have even up to team 3 still fireworks.
Nelson should be in Arteta’s plans with enough game time. So far we did well and if possible include Joe Felix in the list of prayers we need in that AM. That boy was wasted by Chelsea who according to me should be regretting having not joined Arsenal.
Lastly, it is not how you start, but end a race. Recent seasons, Arsenal have started so well and they never carry it to the bitter end. It becomes very frustrating for us funs.
Our rival funs always make fun of us when we lead the table, jokingly and painfully telling us….. Arsenal is not going anywhere….thry will not win the league….and when it turns to be reality, it really pains.
This time round, go go go Arsenal…..we remain behind you in support.
Rice cannot be compared with Partey or Xhaka
except you talking in respect to age
What competition has rice played , how many times has he played for his country compared to Xhaka or Partey
Rice is just been overrated and I hope that pressure will not affect his game because he has to be at his best to prove himself in every game
The people saying Hosanna Hosanna where the same people saying “crucify ” Him. I think Partey did his best last season. He was one of Arsenal’s best players. He did his best. He wasn’t the reason why Arsenal lost the title. How on earth can you compare Rice to Partey. I think Rice is simply overrated. Arsenal will surely regret if Partey and Xhaka leaves. You don’t change and wining team. We would all see the performance of Arsenal next season with Partey.