Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has emphasised the crucial role played by Thomas Partey during the team’s dominant victory over Chelsea.
The Black Stars midfielder made a significant return to the starting XI for only the fifth time this season as Arsenal secured a resounding 5-0 victory over Chelsea at the Emirates on Tuesday night.
Despite missing a considerable portion of the season due to various reasons, the 30-year-old played a crucial role, featuring for 72 minutes in the match.
It marked his first start since April 3 against Luton Town, and he delivered a performance that was both effective and efficient. He was eventually substituted for Italian international Jorginho.
Thomas Partey gave fans a taste of what he's made of last night 🐙 #3SportsGH pic.twitter.com/oyTMCuX4iT
— #3Sports (@3SportsGh) April 24, 2024
“We thought it was a really good game for Thomas [Partey] to come back, he looks like he is in rhythm. He stepped up and had a great performance and was really important for the team, Arteta stated after the game.
Partey was positioned alongside Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice in midfield, and their collective efforts did not go unnoticed by Arsenal manager Arteta. He specifically commended Partey for his contributions upon his return to the starting lineup.
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Following the match, Partey expressed his joy and satisfaction with the team’s outstanding performance.
“I’m happy to be back in the team and also to get a win in the derby,” he said as quoted by Arsenal.com. “It’s a really important game, so I’m very happy. Everything depends on us. We have to continue winning our games, we have a few more games left and we have to win them all.
Thomas Partey will have a year left on his contract at the end of the season and his consistency to the side will be key in determining his future as Arsenal chase their first Premier League trophy in 20 years.
The win extended Arsenal’s lead on the table as they now sit three points clear of Liverpool who have a game in hand and four points more than Manchester City who have two outstanding games to play.