Mikel Arteta, Arsenal (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Thomas Partey is an incredible player, but Arsenal must be wary.
As an Arsenal fan, I would be stupid to turn down the opportunity to sign Thomas Partey. After all, there’s a reason why the Ghanaian international midfielder is our top transfer target this summer. So it;s very clear where I stand; I would be delighted to sign Partey this summer..
However, football is never one-sided. With that being said, it’s important to consider both the positives and negatives. That said, I have put together the three main problems with signing Partey, so we can have a balanced view.
3. Let’s talk about the price tag
There’s no denying that Thomas Partey would be the most expensive midfield option available to Arsenal this summer, even with a release clause of £45m. Not only this, but I assume he will ask for a significant wage increase.
Especially with how negatively hit the transfer market will be due to the Coronavirus break. Arsenal were one of the first teams to be hit by the break and as a club that relies heavily on fan revenue to make some funds, they will need to tread carefully in the summer, let’s also not forget that the second instalment for Nicolas Pepe is due in the new season.
So, for financial purposes, Arsenal must contemplate whether signing Partey is the right thing to do, the last thing we as fans want is to be further in debt as it will only come back to bite us.
Thomas Partey</a>. After all, there’s a reason why the Ghanaian international midfielder is our top transfer target this summer. So it;s very clear where I stand; I would be delighted to sign Partey this summer..</p>
<p>However, football is never one-sided. With that being said, it’s important to consider both the positives and negatives. That said, I have put together the three main problems with signing Partey, so we can have a balanced view.</p>
<h3>3. Let’s talk about the price tag</h3>
<p>There’s no denying that Thomas Partey would be the most expensive midfield option available to Arsenal this summer, even with a release clause of £45m. Not only this, but I assume he will ask for a significant wage increase.</p>
<p>Especially with how negatively hit the transfer market will be due to the Coronavirus break. Arsenal were one of the first teams to be hit by the break and as a club that relies heavily on fan revenue to make some funds, they will need to tread carefully in the summer, let’s also not forget that the second instalment for <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/15/arsenal-3-problems-signing-thomas-partey/"https://fbref.com/en/players/57e3f0c7/Nicolas-Pepe?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Nicolas Pepe</a> is due in the new season.</p>
<p>So, for financial purposes, Arsenal must contemplate whether signing Partey is the right thing to do, the last thing we as fans want is to be further in debt as it will only come back to bite us.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/15/arsenal-3-problems-signing-thomas-partey/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 2. What about Matteo? </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-479622 size-large" src=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/15/arsenal-3-problems-signing-thomas-partey/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_560,w_850/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2016%2F04%2F1005578226-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal" width="850" height="560"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:850px;">Matteo Guendouzi and Thomas Partey, Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid. (Photo by Pakawich Damrongkiattisak/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>2. Downer for Matteo Guendouzi</h3>
<p>Matteo Guendouzi is yet to make an impression on Mikel Arteta, since it seems the boss prefers a midfield pairing of <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/15/arsenal-3-problems-signing-thomas-partey/"https://fbref.com/en/players/e61b8aee/Granit-Xhaka?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Granit Xhaka</a> and <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/15/arsenal-3-problems-signing-thomas-partey/"https://fbref.com/en/players/52611641/Lucas-Torreira?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Lucas Torreira</a>. However, given Guendouzi’s work ethic and leadership abilities, I just know that Arteta will like what he sees.</p>
<p>However, signing Thomas Partey only hinders the progress of Guendouzi, since he will have significantly less game time. While Arteta isn’t one to rest on his laurels, this is something he needs to consider. Guendouzi is 21 years of age and only getting better, after all.</p>
<p>The time between now and the end of the season is important for Guendouzi to make even more of an impression to his boss. He should consider it an audition; if Guendouzi is good enough in his own right and inspires the best out of other players, then there really is no need to sign Partey. More on that later.</p>
<p>Guendouzi’s game time is growing ever-more significant, especially when you consider that the Euros have been rescheduled to be played in the summer of 2021. Of course, the 21-year-old will be dying to represent France at a major competition, and to do so, he needs to be getting consistent game time and improving each week to get that international callup.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/15/arsenal-3-problems-signing-thomas-partey/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 1. The midfield signing is non-essential </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-481007" src=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/15/arsenal-3-problems-signing-thomas-partey/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2016%2F04%2F1202071200-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Thomas Partey, Atletico Madrid (Photo by Xaume Olleros/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>1. It may hinder an essential position</h3>
<p>Many will be reactionary and quick to claim that it is Arsenal’s midfield that has got them in this position. This is an easy and cliche thing to say, after all. However, fans are beginning to recognise that under Mikel Arteta, the midfield is arguably the strongest position. The consistent pairing of Xhaka and Torreira only help with this.</p>
<p>This is why I believe that signing Thomas Partey could prove to be a problem. If it means sacrificing another position in order to sign him, then Arsenal mustn’t. We know, for example, that we run the risk of losing <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/15/arsenal-3-problems-signing-thomas-partey/"https://fbref.com/en/players/9dbb75ca/Alexandre-Lacazette?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Alexandre Lacazette</a> and <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/15/arsenal-3-problems-signing-thomas-partey/"https://fbref.com/en/players/d5dd5f1f/Pierre-Emerick-Aubameyang?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang</a> this summer, so the striker position would be of greater need.</p>
<p>In an ideal world, we would be signing both a striker and a midfielder. However, it all comes down to, again, the Coronavirus situation and its negative impact on player prices.</p>
<p>Besides, if Arsenal do need reinforcement in the midfield, they would be in a better position to call upon their younger players in this position than the striker department. The likes of Emile Smith Rowe, <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/15/arsenal-3-problems-signing-thomas-partey/"https://fbref.com/en/players/e3a5814e/Ainsley-Maitland-Niles?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Ainsley Maitland-Niles</a> and Guenndouzi are all on the cusp of a first-team spot, so they would benefit from not signing a midfielder this summer.</p>
<p>Of course, I would be the first to celebrate if we do sign Partey. I’m not denying that; I certainly wouldn’t be sitting round in doom and gloom contemplating what could possibly go wrong. However, at this stage of the game, I think that’s an important thing to do.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="How Arsenal could lineup next season" data-url="https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/09/arsenal-mikel-arteta-lineup-next-season/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/15/arsenal-3-problems-signing-thomas-partey/"https://playingfor90.com/2020/06/09/arsenal-mikel-arteta-lineup-next-season/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> How Arsenal could lineup next season </a> </div>
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<p>Do you think Arsenal will sign Thomas Partey this summer?</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">