Manager Mikel Arteta claims that Thomas Partey is a very important player for the club and he wants him in the team for the upcoming season.
Despite links with a move away from club this summer, Arteta confirms that the Ghanaian is staying at the Emirates for next campaign. Earlier reports suggesting that the Gunners boss insisted on replacing him in this transfer window.
Partey was signed from Atletico Madrid in 2020 and he had an brilliant partnership with Granit Xhaka on the pitch. However the Swiss International was sold to Bayern Leverkusen this summer.
England International Declan Rice has replaced Xhaka and Mikel Arteta now believes that Partey can play along him in the upcoming season. When reporters asked him if the 30-year-old midfielder will stay at the club. He replied :-
“Yes, Thomas Partey is a super-important player for us and for me and we want him to be in the team, that’s for sure.
“[Him and Rice] can play together. That was in my plans – if you want to improve the squad and have more quality we need players who can play together and need players in the same positions who have to fight for their places – it’s something we haven’t had in the last few years.
“We want to improve that and that’s why Arteta bring in Declan as well. Every time I spoke to [Partey] and had a conversation with him, he’s ready to stay with us. For me, there’s nothing there at all.”
Declan Rice could make his first start in the US Pre-season tour and Partey also join the team but their is time in his return.
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