Thomas Partey played a crucial role in Arsenal’s North London Derby victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.
The Ghanaian midfielder has been absent for the vast majority of the season but showed just how good he is this weekend after playing a starring role in the Gunners’ dramatic 3-2 win.
This was the first time Partey had completed 90 minutes in a match since winning 1-0 at Crystal Palace in August, such was the 30-year-old’s injury woes.
The former Atletico Madrid man has missed a total of 72 games since signing for Arsenal in 2020 and is therefore someone Mikel Arteta cannot always rely on.
Highlighting the value of the 2017/18 La Liga winner, Arteta said on Sunday: “He is a very important player and we have missed him for months. He looks fantastic.” “It’s his presence, his quality, his physicality and his experience.”
With a year left on his current contract, transfer chief Edu faces a major decision on what the future holds for Arsenal’s number five. Will they opt to extend Partey’s stay in the capital or part ways with one of the top earners in the squad with an unfavorable availability record? football.london writers have had their say below.
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Joe Doyle – Content Editor
In general, Arsenal have been very good with transfers lately. Proactive in knowing exactly the profile of who fits the team, and reactive in the best way to arrange deals like Leandro Trossard when a transfer for Mykhailo Mudryk fell through.
One area where they have done quite well since Mikel Arteta’s arrival is knowing when to move a player, but there have been financial problems with that. Terminating Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s contract early so he could seal a move was a wise choice for the team, but not financially wise.
I think if Arsenal want to become a real top competitor in Europe, they need to become a club that sells players at the right time. Look at Manchester City with Gabriel Jesus – still objectively a good player, but they made a tidy profit on him and managed to strengthen the team elsewhere. Perhaps the best example is Real Madrid. They sold Casemiro and Raphael Varane for big money when they were still dominating the European game; but the club knew its peak years were coming to an end.
I think Arsenal are there with Partey. While he is still a good player, he turns 31 this summer and has reached his ceiling in terms of ability. They’ve already had an injury-riddled year with him, and with his type of role, he’ll only pick up more over time.
Verdict: If they get a suitable offer, sell.
Tom Canton – Arsenal writer
The question mainly concerns what the summer transfer period has in store. Thomas Partey is an asset for Arsenal and has shown that in his last two starts, which have resulted in eight goals against two ‘Big Six’ sides.
However, the reality is that the Ghanaian cannot guarantee significant attendance and has played more than 30 Premier League games in just one season since his arrival in 2020. In the other seasons there have been 24, 24 and in this season so far only 11 .
A major investment and one of the top earners at the club. Can the Gunners afford to risk that next season, when the pressure for silverware under Mikel Arteta will reach an all-time high? That said, the midfield market doesn’t necessarily offer a Declan Rice-style guarantee from a banker.
Youssouf Fofana and Martin Zubimendi are good options, but come with their own risks. Only Joshua Kimmich offers the top-level quality Arsenal need, but signing him away from Bayern Munich will depend heavily on the choice of their new coach.
In short…I’m getting splinters off the fence here. One to definitely revisit as summer’s options reveal themselves.
Verdict: Wait
Sam Truelove – Content Editor
I think people forget how good Thomas Partey was for Arsenal after his £45million arrival from Atletico Madrid on deadline day in the summer of 2020.
“We have been keeping an eye on Thomas for some time now, so we are now pleased to add such a high-quality player to our squad,” Mikel Arteta said after the deal was announced. “He is a dynamic midfielder with a lot of energy. He brings a lot of experience from a top club that has been playing at the highest level in La Liga and the Champions League for several years.”
The midfielder certainly brings quality and experience and has played a large part in turning the Gunners into title challengers. The Ghanaian international was perhaps at his best last season, when he made 40 appearances in all competitions and contributed with three goals, including a glorious strike against Tottenham in January 2022.
However, the 30-year-old’s influence has waned this campaign. Partey was hampered by injury and played only thirteen games. Declan Rice, Jorginho and Martin Odegaard have been much more reliable in Arsenal’s midfield and if the Gunners get a suitable offer this summer, I would take it.
Partey has just one year left on his contract and Arsenal will likely be looking for a new midfielder anyway. An offer of more than €20 million should be enough, but it is not the end of the world if Partey stays and leaves for nothing at the end of the 2024/25 season. His experience and quality are not a bad thing to keep for another year.
Verdict: sell
Tom Cavilla – Central Audience Writer
It will be interesting to see what Arsenal do with Partey.
There can be no dispute that he has been an important player for the club over the years, the problem is that this has not happened often enough due to his injury problems.
If Arsenal want to sell the midfielder, the only real chance to do so is this summer as his contract expires in 2025. Losing Partey on a free transfer next year would make little sense, so a decision is needed in the coming weeks.
A new contract would certainly make sense as the Gunners continue to challenge for world football’s biggest trophies, which requires a squad full of options at different stages of the season. Handing out a five-year contract is unlikely, although the option for a two- or three-year extension would be plausible.
When fit, Partey is one of Arsenal’s crucial players and it may be unwise to sacrifice such a man. I would like to extend his stay at the Emirates Stadium this summer, avoiding the unthinkable scenario of not being able to recoup the transfer fee for a player the club signed for £45 million.
Verdict: keep
Amie Wilson – Central Audience Writer
When considering Partey’s long-term future at the club, Arsenal will have to weigh the risk and reward. With Partey proving his quality against Tottenham last weekend, does he have enough time available to justify the wages being spent on him?
The Premier League’s crackdown on Profitability and Sustainability (PSR) rules means the question will have to be asked of every club more often. While Partey is valuable when he is available, I would seriously consider letting him go if the opportunity arises in the summer.
He has another year left on his contract, meaning it could be the last time Arsenal could get a decent fee. What would that be, but it has recently been suggested that Arsenal could be looking at a fee of between £20m and £25m. Plus, it frees up some extra money through his wages. Mikel Arteta’s side have shown that they can still compete at the top without him, and it could allow them to bring in a new player who would be available more often but might not earn as much in wages.
Verdict: sell
Hush Kerai – Central Audience Editor
Thomas Partey has simply not been available enough for Arsenal to continue paying his significant wages since his £45m move from Atletico Madrid, despite a recent impressive performance in the north London derby win.
With his contract expiring, the club’s best bet is to capitalize on his value and reinvest in the transfer market this summer. Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard could both still be promoted if Arsenal can find a player of Partey’s quality, but someone they can rely on for 40 to 50 games in a grueling season.
Edu is in a position where Arsenal are not entering the summer market out of desperation, so the time has come to find the perfect player to complement what the Gunners already have in midfield.
Would Thomas Partey stay at Manchester City? Probably not. In any case, those are the standards that Arsenal must meet when it comes to putting together squads.
Verdict: sell
Josh Holland – Central Audience Writer
In what is expected to be another big summer for Arsenal, I have always opted for Thomas Partey to be one of the players sold to raise relevant funds.
At 30, he is still capable of playing at the top level, but his injury record is worrying. The match against Tottenham was his first 90 minutes of the season and that is not ideal for a team that wants to compete in the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League.
Arsenal’s midfield could do with reinforcements in the summer and selling Partey in their last chance to do so could be the smarter choice.
Partey is still capable of performing at the highest level, but with his contract expiring next summer, his future in North London looks bleak. At any other club, like Man City, you would expect him to be sold this summer.
Sentiment is a great thing in football, but it can’t be used in every scenario.
Verdict: sell