While we’ve discussed the possibility that Arsenal won’t be signing anyone in this transfer window, it appears that reinforcements, like Gandalf, will be coming on the first light of the fifth day. Thomas Partey, who hasn’t played a minute of competitive football since mid-October, looks set to return from his injury and surgery by the end of January. If true, he’d be the proverbial if not prodigal new signing, giving us a massive boost at a crucial time.
Partey picked up a knock back in September and was being eased back into the squad when the injury worsened during training after a couple of international trainings. Fast-forward to now, and the silver lining is that he’s skipped Ghana’s involvement in AFCON and could be ready for a short cameo against Nottingham Forest on 30 January, ahead of a far-more vital clash at home to Liverpool (what? again, already? FFS). Let’s just hope that Partey is back to 100% fitness and not something more like 85% or even 95%. It would be altogether Arsenal-esque for him to come back too soon and aggravate the injury during some innocuous exchange.
On a brighter note, we might indulge in a bit of optimistic speculation as to what it might mean for Partey to be available. The first thought that springs to mind is what it might look like to see Partey and Rice together in a double pivot, getting back to the glory days of a 4-2-3-1 with Ødegaard pulling strings, not just for Saka and Jesus from the right, but for Martinelli from the left. Rice and Partey could take turns getting forward or shielding the back four, each of their line-splitting progressive passes springing Saka or Jesus or Martinelli free into space behind stretched back-lines. That they could do this while shielding our back four against more-aggressive types like Liverpool, Man City, or Tottenham should induce a bit of drooling.
I’ll pause to allow you to ever so primly dab your napkin to your lips.
Against those more-inclined to park the bus, we might able to afford to rest Rice while giving Partey time to find more match fitness, assured (more or less) in the idea that our defenders can soak up whatever pressure our opponents can bring to bear. If we’re feeling impudent, we could deploy both Rice and Partey against mid-table sides in an attempt to overwhelm them through sheer force of will. Forget Amadou Onana. With Rice and Partey at the base of our attack, Martinelli and Saka would be largely freed from tracking back and could focus their considerable, youthful energies on evisceration.
Taking a longer view, we have to wonder about Partey’s future at the club. He’s 30 until he’s 31 (which occurs on 13 June, by the way). His injuries are likely to occur more frequently and persistently. He’s under contract until 30 June 2025, at which point he’ll be [checks abacus] 32. Perhaps we can palm him off on some Saudi Pro League side. I don’t mean to sweep other issues under the rug, and I hope it’s not too cynical to tout his return with one hand while keeping him at arm’s distance with the other…
My First touch is: This is a good blog which is now part of my daily routine – well played Sir!
Second touch: If Partey comes back, he will be like a new signing – until he breaks as I believe he is “crocked” and is generally unable to play in 6 consecutive games. I haven’t google that, is just my gut feel. Another gut feeling is that he really does owe us – hopefully he will turn up, put in the type of performance we all know he is capable of, and help us stay near the top of table. Is a real shame we haven’t been able to see more of him during his underwhelming career with Arsenal. These must surely be his last months with us now. COYG
Flattered that I might have attracted another “regular,” Carl – thanks for popping in. Partey reminds me of Samuel Jackson’s character from the movie Unbreakable, he suffered from some kind of brittle-bone condition and was constantly, well, breaking bones. Let’s hope we can get a solid five months from him, enough to drive us back toward the top of the table.
Partey is always fit and well by the end of January, usually he is fit in time to play in his first and favourite choice competition, The Africans Cup. He will pretend to be injured all year around and collect his Hugh wages, then all of a sudden miraculously get well and fit in time to play in the Africans Cup. What a con. The sooner we sell him, the better. Just my opinion but Check his history, if you don’t believe me.
He’s not going to ACON this time.
This allegation might make more sense if he had recovered in time to go to AFCON this year, wouldn’t it?
If it were anyone other than Chris Houghton as Ghana’s head coach, I wouldn’t have been surprised if they’d insisted on Partey joining the squad.
Fair point. I do like Houghton.
Test
My prayer is for every injured player to return fit for Arsenal. Partey reminds me of Jack Wilshire, good footballer but with fragile bones
His return to fitness could mean more to our campaign than any player we could sign this month.
I doubt if you follow up with news at all, partey ain’t attending the Africa Cup of Nations any longer,stop trying being a bigot here.
I agree with your first assertion about follwing the news, but I think it’s too hasty to assert that it’s bigotry at work. Not enough evidence to work with.
Party truly and honestly is Zinchenkoish. Play back the previous matches. Futile to celebrate his return.I say no more.
But I give it to this blog. Refreshingly different. I doff my hat!!!
Cheers, Dan. Thanks for popping in!
Is in accord with.
Thanks! I hope to hear more from you in the future!
That’s harsh. When he’s fit, Partey is a beast. When Zinchenko’s fit, he becomes a liability. Part of that is the role he’s asked to play, some of that is his own limitations. He’s just not a defender and should probably be played as a DM/CM type.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that we haven’t looked all that impressive without Partey in the lineup.
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Evening, if Partey plays the second half of the season. Then its quite in line with his performances in a Arsenal shirt. He´s been out roughly half a season every year.
The good thing this year is that a fit and firing Thomas Partey for the business end of the year is one hell of a boast for us.
I apologize about this new pop-up that invites you to subscribe. I didn’t activate it and am annoyed at it. I will do what I can to disable it.
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