Has Thomas Partey’s drop in form tarnished his “best in position” reputation?

For those who were wondering why Partey wasn’t on the team of the season, this is for you. There was a time earlier this season when Arsenal was flying; every Gunner was seen as the best in his position.

Arsenal’s brilliance backed the Gooners to make statements like Thomas Partey is the best No. 6 in the Premier League. Speaking of Thomas Partey being the best-holding midfielder, is that so? Can that statement still have weight?

At one point, it felt like Arsenal’s midfield was nothing without him; the way he performed there was just extraordinary. While Odegaard and Xhaka thought only of attacking, he made sure the midfield’s defensive part was taken care of single-handedly

However, towards the tail end of the season, it may be hard to convince many that Partey is the best-holding midfielder in the PL. Darren Bent argues that Manchester City’s Rodri is the best-holding midfielder there is, noting that he would have said Partey at one point.

Bent said on talkSPORT: “For me, he is the best holding midfielder in the world. Right now, he is the best holding midfielder in the world. At the start of the season, for my sins, I was saying that Thomas Partey [was the best No. 6 in the world], who start of the season, unbelievable. He can’t lace Rodri’s boots!”

Has Partey’s recent struggles and Arsenal’s poor run in the past few weeks cost the Black Star the best No. 6 tag? Next season, the former Atletico Madrid man can redeem himself; let’s hope so.

Daniel O


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31 Comments

  1. Thomas Partey has been the best defensive midfielder in his position for a number of years, even before he join us.

    He is the only genuine world class player on Arsenal books, but class is permanent , surely something must have gone wrong lately he seems seriously distracted.

    1. I just posted to you elsewhere. Do you know the tune “Dreamland” by Third World ? That’s where I’m going now. You will be all alone on the night shift.

      1. Had watch that third world band on several occasions in Jamaica and New York, think the last time was in Brooklyn in 2000,

        My favorite Third world song is, Now that we found love.

    1. Aside from his ex-girlfriend, I heard another woman reported him to the police. Luckily, we’ve still got two CDMs to back him up

      1. Yes,,, that’s quite correct @gotanidea. A third woman came forward as well. That one was thrown out as being unreliable. But it’s quite strange that all 3 women have some form of connection with each other. As for Thomas Partey’s drop off,,, that started day one of April and continued throughout that month. As did Granit Xhaka’s form. April is the month of RAMADAN. All Muslims have to FAST. That means no eating or taking in any fluids whatsoever between Dawn and Sunrise. That’s why the referees were stopping night matches for a drinks break. I know Liverpool catered for their Muslim players by changing training times. I’m personally in two minds about it all. I’m not anti religious at all. My Filipino wife is a Marketing Manager for an American textile company based in Bangladesh,, and some of the things that happen there during the month of RAMADAN is quite unbelievable. Her and her colleagues have to be escorted to and from work during the month of RAMADAN. That’s how unsafe it is for non practising Muslims. But she does send me some cool sick jokes about it all. But there have been some Muslims playing in the Premier League where their performances have been affected by FASTING. I know that Granit Xhaka is a practising Muslim. But as for Thomas Partey,,, that’s quite a strange one. He turned Muslim after being arrested. I’ve heard alot of people remark about Ivan Toney, and how his performance hadn’t dipped during his problems. I think there’s a massive difference. Tony get a suspension. Thomas Partey could be imprisoned if found guilty,, and have his Passport cancelled and not be allowed to enter certain countries there after. But in saying that,,, the case could be thrown out the door. These days high profile people are easy targets. But then, some of them don’t make it easy on themselves

        1. Fasting could also be a logical explanation of Partey’s dwindling form

          I think he mingled with a wrong group of people. I watched him make Christian sign of the cross in his last match, when he came in as a substitute

          You and your wife live in Bangladesh? Isn’t it a dangerous country, because of poverty and radical religious groups over there?

          1. @gotanidea,,, I’m in Australia, my wife is in Bangladesh working as a Marketing Manager for an American company. The money is brilliant. I originally met her in China when she was the Managing Director for a company in England that had textile factories throughout China. So we met in China around 2010/11,,,, got married in the Philippines in 2012. We went to a lot of effort to both get married and do it legitimately and legally through both Australian and Philippine Governments. I had to provide the Australian Government a Divorce Certificate of my previous marriage,,, my wife had to produce a Certificate to prove that she was never married because she had a child out of Wedlock. Then we had to be married by a Politician in the Philippines to make it legal. No church wedding,,, no Celebrant. The Town Mayor of Bacacay married us in his office. He was very impressed that Nancy and I dressed up for the occasion. Every couple the Mayor that Friday afternoon turned up in jeans, tea-shirt, and slippers. I bought Nancy a white cocktail dress, and I wore a suit and tie. And Nancy had the whole day professionally videoed by some company who did a remarkable job. My wife has a University Degree in Business and Law,, yet the Australian Government will not acknowledge that. For her to stay in Australia permanently, she is not allowed to work in Australia for 2 years. She can only come to Australia on a Tourist Visa. Because she’s Filipino, she can’t get a Working Visa. She won’t work in the Philippines because of the low wages. Anyone in the Philippines with a University Degree don’t or never work in their home country. So she’s in Bangladesh. 3rd world country, as dirty as hell, women treated like dirt. She looks at the money side of things. She’s putting her son through University in the Philippines. He’s studying Civil Engineering. The fees are ridiculously high. And she’s just paid out 2500 US Dollars for him to have braces on his teeth. Nancy has sacrificed alot to put her son through school and University. She’s never really been there to see the young man grow up. I could never do that with my two kids. One of reasons why I admire her strength as a very strong woman. But Bangladesh is not a nice civil country. But she’s a great sense of humour when it comes to sending jokes about Muslims in Bangladesh. She’s witnessed some horrible things over there. Probably why one needs a sense of humour

            1. Nice to hear that she is having a great career at an American company in Bangladesh, but I think she’d be much safer with you and her family in Australia or the Philippines

              Sri Lanka had a series of mass protests last year and is still having a severe economic crisis. I believe similar events could potentially happen to Bangladesh soon, because of the corruption and religious extremist groups in that country

              Anyways, best of luck to your family. I bet she knows the best time to get out of the country

            2. pjennings, I had the opportunity to project manage an upgrade of the Qantas base in Dacca about 40 years ago. For me the money was not worth the risk, but I didn’t have the same pressures your wife does. I wish your stepson all the best in his Civil Engineering degree. It is a very satisfying career with many opportunities in Australia and worldwide.

              1. Thanks Ozziegunner and gotanidea. That’s where bulk of the Filipinos go for work. They get their University Degrees and head to countries like Bangladesh and India. The Australian Government refuses to recognise her education and qualifications. She started as The Paymaster at Manila International Airport. Worked in England (Manchester) for a year at a textile company. They transferred her to China for 5 years,, that’s where we met. She’s worked in Germany and Switzerland. Speaks 4 different languages. English is her first prefered language though being born in the Philippines and putting herself through school and University. The biggest joke of all is, the Philippine Educational System is higher than that of Australia’s. Anyway,, we have often thought of my sinister PLAN D. I go back to the Philippines, go out fishing, fall overboard. There are many small islands in the Philippines. We’ve thought of everything. We’ve done everything by the book so far. If she over stayed her Visa here in Australia,, we’d be tracked down like dogs quick smart

          2. gai, it’s not the fasting, it’s the woman !
            Apparently he met this wife and fell head over heals in love to the point where he wanted to show his devotion to her by jumping his religious ship to board a new one (ie the Muslim faith).
            We have to be careful what we say. I doubt if Thomas’ fasting or even lack of fasting has anything to do with his drop in form. It’s the woman I tell you. THE WOMAN !

            1. EvGunner, Partey had definitely chosen a wrong woman, as Emmanuel Eboue, David James and Jeremy Renner did few years ago

              1. gai, you know more than I do about the guys you’ve just mentioned. And as for Jeremy Renner, he’s lucky to be alive (re: his snowplough accident)
                Footballers today just seem to be sitting targets for groupies. It’s the nature of things. So many pitfalls for young, rich guys in the prime of their life. That’s why all the boys who are never in trouble should be admired.

                1. Achraf Hakimi was the most recent victim of those materialistic women, but he was smart enough to put all his money in his mother’s account. I agree that the good boys usually stay out of troubles

                  1. Yes, Marcus Rashford, Harry Kane, Ngolo Kante good examples of how a pro should conduct himself.
                    Bad examples – Mendy, Greenwood, Walker, Grealish, the disgusting Joey Barton.

        2. Believe the 3rd woman isnt the 3rd woman
          It was the 2nd woman but 2 seperate charges
          What an awful mess and if he is found guilty then he should be locked up and keys thrown away

          1. You’re actually right @Alanball08. It’s quite strange,, the guy gets arrested,,,, not long afterwards declares himself a devoted Muslim. A bit like Joe Floyd,,, holds a gun to a pregnant woman’s stomach,,, goes to prison,,, he declares himself a Born Again Christian,,,, gets caught with counterfeit money. Hopefully the truth will come out. What I can’t understand,, if that was you or I arrested and charged,, we would not be granted BAIL,,, plus we would have to surrender our Passports and refused to be allowed to travel overseas. That’s what’s very confusing,,, the fact he’s allowed to travel overseas. Doesn’t make sense

  2. Even before next season come, Thomas Partey if Arteta start or play him for Nott For at the City Ground tomorrow. He can use his starting for his team in the match to rediscovered his lost form for the Gunners during the run in. And stake a claim in the match for Arsenal. With a back-four defens-line ubreachable protection by him against Not For in the match.
    Which will see Nottingham Forest get blocked from breaching the Gunners fort to score any goal in the match against Arsenal to snatch a point in it. And thereby help themselves to ease their chronic relegation panic.
    The panic which the Gunners MUST make sure they inflict more of it on Forest in the game. Which could send them to disarray state in the match. And as a result, collect all the 3 points at stake in the match unfailingly.
    Which consequently could see Nottingham Forest’s struggles this season to remain in the Epl next season come to no avail.
    The Gunners should not ,are the mistake about it to not come on top of Forest on the match beating them in it.
    But bet them in it by all means. So that should there be a slip up on Sunday in a form of defeat to a team looking poised to win the title this season. Arsenal hopes to be handed the title win on a platter, will remain breathing with hopes.

  3. We do not know the effect on Thomas Partey’s form due to off field issues or he has been playing with injury, because of the fragility of Arsenal’s league position?

  4. Hope arsenal change players and system for the last few games here’s mine,
    3-2-4-1
    Ramsdale
    White. Gabb. Tierney
    Jorge partey
    Nelson. Ode esr. Tross
    Jesus

    1. Only if Arteta had used this ur Formation,
      We would have Defeated West Ham and Southampton Easily.
      But he indulged in FAVOURITISM by playing the likes of Saka, Xhaka, Zinchenko and even Martinelli who have been Terrible since March.😒😔
      He is a Sentimental Coach and next season, i don’t see him making Top 4. 😕

  5. Bent is correct when he suggests Rodri is the best DM in the League but completely wide of the mark with the assertion that Partey could not pace his boots.He does not seem to appreciate that there is a lot more to Partey who is not a natural DM but is being used in that position by Arsenal .Rhodri is basically a centre back, where he played for Spain in the World Cup, who has been converted to a DM where he has been highly effective.Partey is more of a box to box midfielder who has better ball skills and passing ability.Rodri plays simple balls whereas Partey attempts penetrating passes where the element of success is less which is why in some matches he is wrongly accused of giving the ball away.As the adage goes, better to have tried and failed than not to have tried at all.In my opinion they are both terrific players.

  6. I have been very skeptical about Partey since his second season here. But this season he has been really good and important. Players drop in form and he has just dropped in form at the business end of this season. Same like Saka and most of our first teamers.

    We just need to find a replacement / deputy to take slowly take over from him from next season..

    I will admit I was very hard on him before the season started but he has done brilliantly for the majority of it.

    But we need a youger replacement soon..

  7. You’re actually right @Alanball08. It’s quite strange,, the guy gets arrested,,,, not long afterwards declares himself a devoted Muslim. A bit like Joe Floyd,,, holds a gun to a pregnant woman’s stomach,,, goes to prison,,, he declares himself a Born Again Christian,,,, gets caught with counterfeit money. Hopefully the truth will come out. What I can’t understand,, if that was you or I arrested and charged,, we would not be granted BAIL,,, plus we would have to surrender our Passports and refused to be allowed to travel overseas. That’s what’s very confusing,,, the fact he’s allowed to travel overseas. Doesn’t make sense

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