With the season ending in a few days with Arsenal at home to Wolves, all anticipation is on what Edu and Arteta have planned for this summer. As quality players join, some may have to make way.
A few days ago, we hinted that, other than Xhaka, who is apparently poised to leave, Thomas Partey could also be on his way out of the club.
The 30-year-old has been a crucial part of Arteta’s project since he joined in 2020, but injuries impeded his early form. But for the better part of this season, until he lost his mojo a few weeks ago, he was brilliant, anchoring the Arsenal midfield in the traditional No. 6 role, as Odegaard and Xhaka focused on leading the attack as double No. 8s. Now that there are question marks about his future at Arsenal, reports no longer mention him as “untouchable.”
Notably, an article in the Mirror says that reports from Italy suggest two unnamed Italian clubs are keen to approach Arsenal about selling him to them. The Ghana international could be going, and his departure could see Arteta complete his midfield overhaul.
Over the last few days, it’s been claimed Arsenal’s midfield next season could be built around Martin Odegaard alongside summer arrivals Declan Rice, Ilkay Gundogan, and Mason Mount. Let’s hope the trio all join as expected.
At this point, one may ask, “Is an Odegaard-Mount-Rice midfield, with Gundogan as backup, the midfield set-up that helps Arsenal steal Man City’s crown next season?”
Would that trio be a big improvement to the Gunners midfield?
Darren N
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Gundogan as backup? He’s better than anyone we have now and better than mount or rice. Only mention that as he’s stated in the article – I could see mount being a very good signing for us but gundogan is simply better (though I don’t think he’ll be joining us anyway).
If partey is leaving, we do need someone of real quality to replace him. If they believe rice is the man who can replace partey, then I don’t think 100m is too high – that role is so important, and a really good one is worth as much as a great forward in my view. I’m sceptical rice has the right skillset, however – it needs to be someone who’s supremely comfortable with the ball, particularly in tight spaces. i don’t think that’s rice – he’s better facing towards the opposition goal, winning it back and springing forward, rather than receiving it from defenders and breaking presses. Even caicedo, who I do rate very highly, might need some time to adapt to that DM role, if that was the idea, because I don’t think it’s his usual position, and might not suit him perfectly either..
It will be very foolish to make someone who won 95% of the games he featured to leave just like that. It’s even unacceptable to let Xhaka leave instead of building from where we stopped
Totally agree to that. Build on what we already have instead of replacing them with some unproven players.
Partey is a terrific footballer, and as such, he should not be sold.The same applies to ESR and Tierney but evidently our Manager sees it differently.
Sheer madness if they wish to sell Thomas Partey.
Tierney and ESR are great but I am not fully against selling them because of their injury records.
Gundoyan at 32 is merely a stop gap,all be a very talented one. Letting Partey go is a mistake,yes he lost his mojo in last few games bit he had an outstanding season. Mount to us I hope not. Challenging City is not just a fix for next season.
Partey is the only world class player on book at Arsenal, think the uncertainty surrounding him is a little different than the others leaving.
But Arsenal needs an additional minimum of two midfielders regardless of who is leaving with Xhaka.
As the noise gets louder on Ilkay Gundogan and rightfully so, we cannot afford to be caught again with our pants below our knees.
I dont even see it coming that, Arsenals will allow Partey to leave. He is an integral integral part of the team.
Arsenal are better off selling swuad players than a first team player like Thomas Partey or class internationals like Keiran Tierney. Minimum upgrades are essential as follows:
1 x Strong tall fast CF
2 x midfielders, box to box and DM
2 x CB’s
Gundoyan at 32 is merely a stop gap,all be a very talented one. Letting Partey go is a mistake,yes he lost his mojo in last few games bit he had an outstanding season. Mount to us I hope not. Challenging City is not just a fix for next season.
The ONLY way Partey will be sold is if we get Rice and (i dont think we will) Caicedo. Partey is probably the only world class, class player we have. We have nobody of his standard, he could play for City, he is that good. We wont sell Partey without getting good money for him and two top top midfielders. It would be lunacy.