Thomas Partey may have had to wait for his first day at Arsenal but the new midfielder says the fans made him feel at home immediately.
Signed on deadline day from Atletico Madrid, the Ghana international didn’t have time to visit London before rushing off to Turkey on international duty.
In the ensuing week, the €50 million signing says he was flooded with love on social media from Gunners supporters across the globe who are excited to see what he can bring to Mikel Arteta’s midfield.
Yesterday, following games against Mali and Qatar, the 27-year-old finally made it to London Colney where he met his new teammates, posed for those all-important welcome pictures taken and sat down with the club’s in-house media.
“I feel so happy,” he told Arsenal.com. “I already feel part of the family because the fans have received me, everybody is saying nice things about me and, you know, to be received like this is a great feeling.
“This a great club, it is one of the biggest clubs in Europe and it is a club that deserves to be aspiring for greater things and I think it doesn’t happen in a day, we have to work hard to make sure we are back to where we belong. I want to make everyone feel happy.”
Thomas went on to hold a small press conference with a select group of broadcasters and print publications. Nick Ames of the Guardian and Sam Dean of The Telegraph (£) have both penned profile pieces worth your time.
Softly-spoken but quietly confident in his own abilities – I guess you would be after five years playing for Diego Simeone – he said: “I think there is no pressure on me. I like to challenge myself, I like new challenges. It’s all about learning fast, learning quickly.”
It remains to be seen how Mikel Arteta utilises Partey (the boss says he brings ‘adaptability’) but there’s an anticipation that he’ll bring a physical presence along with technical quality to a midfield that for years has supposedly lacked the former.
It’s a slightly lazy narrative – if it was that easy to replace or replicate Patrick Vieira’s qualities, everyone would have done it – but it’s one that the new boy is happy to tackle face on.
“Everything is possible,” he says. “I know I am not going to give up even if [in] bad situations I need to work hard. I have been there, I have been in situations like that. Now I think I know that working hard and giving all of my best in every game will determine if I live up to [the fans’] high expectations.”
Thomas certainly isn’t new to Arsenal’s prestigious history. Growing up in Ghana he was regularly exposed to Arsene Wenger’s sides, including the Invincibles.
“I have followed Arsenal for a long time,” he told Arsenal.com. “When we were young we used to watch so many games, when they had the Invincibles season in 2004, they were so great. That is when they won the hearts of so many people.
“There were a lot of great players [here at the club] before. Ian Wright was here, Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Pires, Bergkamp was one of the greatest, and that season was great.”
Good luck to the new boy, we’re excited to see what he can do.
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He’s doing a good job so far of making us happy, without even playing! Fills a gap that we have had in our midfield for a long time.
Keep going at this level of happiness once on the pitch over the next few seasons and we’ll have taken a big step forward.
His character is highly touted too and this is just our first glimpse of that. Perfect words – “I know I am not going to give up even if [in] bad situations I need to work hard. I have been there, I have been in situations like that. Now I think I know that working hard and giving all of my best in every game will determine if I live up to [the fans’] high expectations.”
Can’t wait to see this guy in action.
Agree, although the weight of expectation will, hopefully, not be a drag on him. Party’s comments were certainly more considered than the reported comment by his father that he was waiting for his son to “join a bigger club”. Parents, eh.
Partey’s Father is probably looking with not a little interest at the Ozil situation and seeing how this club treats its biggest commercial (non)playing asset.
A shameless small club mentality from a shameless small minded hierarchy.
No.
?
Toxic basterd ehh ?
A small minded comment from a toxic supporter
Feeling happy himself with £260 000 per week and making fans happy with some PR invincibles… blablabla.
Shut up you tart
You seem fun. Are you OK?
Are you OK Alex? Like honestly is everything OK in your life?
You sound like you are dealing with some bad stuff right now because there is no reason for your posts cynicism, so I feel like you are going through some rough stuff?
Chin up and coyg!
You guys signed Bale, why should you be negative?
Who took the jam out of your donut? Cmon mate, be more positive.
Think someone actually took his doughnut. And left jam all over his sp*rsy face.
I share your anger at the way the Ozil situation has been allowed to fester and also your skepticism regarding the creativity of our midfield for the season ahead.
But I think all of us can agree that Partey is a step in the right direction – if not an immediate guarantee of a return to the ECL.
Chin up mate and, going on what Goonerink said, I hope you’re ok. ?
Childish jealousy Alex, Ozil may not even play for the club again. No point in putting down somebody supposedly in his favour.
?
Is this about Özil again? Özil is probably feeling happy himself with £350 000 per week and making fans happy with talk of Gunnersaurus and honoring his contract…… If Özil gave just one week of his sallary to Gunnersaurus the dude would be set for years to come. Some people even retire on that.
Lets not forget about the millions that one of the most philanthropic sportsmen gives to worthwhile causes throughout the world.
The fact that he already speaks such good English is great too. Love this guy already. Now show us what you can do on the pitch big man!!
Er, maybe look up Ghana’s official language?
I thought Ghana was a French speaking African country too because many neighbouring countries are. Glad to be corrected.
According to Football Manager he speaks fluent French despite growing up in an English speaking country and playing in Spain. Dunno where he got it from
I think what’s even better is that he speaks both English AND Spanish so he should be able to communicate with Arteta on a more philosophical level. Not to mention it can only make playing with Ceballos easier.
Likewise. Also glad to be corrected. Tops up my quiz knowledge.
A Ghana as a Gunner? Sounds right and it’s long overdue.
We should have got Essien many moons ago. What a difference he would have made.
Hope Partey has stronger knees than Essien. In fact, Partey has already proven that.
pffftttttttttt still remember THAT goal vs us
I listened to the interview,dude is super intelligent…we got our mojo now
Just keep Arsenal fans happy mate. Make supporters of other clubs absolutely miserable.
So watching the invincibles made him think Wiltord was prime Wrighty?
Really really really hoping to see you in action on Saturday, even though it may be too early.
But even then you have the rest of the season to blow our minds!
Honestly got so giddy after seeing him in our colours at last!
Do we have a Partey song yet?
He’s our Partey and he’ll score ID he wants to?
Or
I just want to Partey all the time?
Or
There ain’t no Partey like Thomas Partey cause Thomas Partey don’t stop?
I think we’ll figure something out
*if
I’m clearly rooting for Naughty By Nature
I’m claiming intellectual property theft here. #1 was my own original work. #3 was by @Lettra. https://arseblog.news/2020/10/arteta-partey-gives-us-more-adaptability/ Shame, shame, shame…
Hadn’t seen that, Daveo! But fair enough! I imagine that a lot of us immediately thought of every song with the word “party” in it.
I like the first, to the tune of “It’s My Party” by Lesley Gore it must be right?
Yep, Billy, that’s what I was thinking
Or
We just pass to Partey all the time, Partey all the time, Partey all the tiime.
Great interview with the Guardian. I loved the part where he helped with the Alcobendas’ players wages. And the last quote is the metaphysics and ethics of Partey 😀 “I believe that everyone on earth is a god. I think if I am a god to myself, it is important that I choose all my own decisions and make everything work for me on my way.”
Now I’d need to read that. Deep sensible stuff
“…..he’ll bring a physical presence along with technical quality to a midfield that for years has supposedly lacked the former. It’s a slightly lazy narrative – if it was that easy to replace or replicate Patrick Vieira’s qualities, everyone would have done it…“ It’s not a lazy narrative because Patrick Vieira isn’t the only example of a physical midfield presence is he? Petit was physical, Gilberto was physical, Edu was physical, Ray Parlour was physical, hell even Gilles Grimandi was a physical midfield presence! And all played in a completely different way and critically all played for us within a… Read more »
Absolutely, with knobs on!
Going by your list, Xhaka is a physical presence.
How’s that considering i didn’t list him?
He certainly brings more physicality than Fabregas, Denilson, Arteta, Ramsey, Cazorla
I can add some more, Hleb, Rosicky, Arshavin, Nasri, Ox
Of course Ozil!!
Wilshere, Flamini
Top four, son.
No pressure. ?
Good news, let’s make a start by being
H. A. P. P. Y against City.
He should be a great addition to the squad. We needed that power in midfield.
One glaring problem that we still have in the squad is the lack of a top-quality creative midfielder. Ceballos is ok but he won’t win you the title. We really needed to sign a Bruno Fernandez-type of midfielder: someone who could provide a subtle, through pass.
Next summer, maybe.
Sorry ……Bruno who?
And in the meantime, we pour £350k down the drain for an ostracised player more than capable of linking up with our new signing and creating a far healthier – albeit temporary- midfield.
If we don’t get top four – and we won’t- I shall have zero empathy or sympathy for the hierarchy of this club. An opportunity and financial resources wasted.
Money is not everything.
Tell that to Biggles.
And Kroenke.
Thank Wenger & Gazidis for that. He’s not been ostracised but having got on board when the train was stopped at a red signal decided to disembark.
Well, this club’s midfield creativity and top four hopes are currently terminated my old son and won’t get moving again until we sign an Ozil replacement – next summer at the earliest and requiring at least £60m
The Ozil horse hasn’t only bolted, it’s roamed a hundred miles, been recaptured and then sent to the knacker’s yard. Arteta doesn’t fancy him, probably due to Özil’s horrible, selfish attitude. It’s time to move on from our German friend.
*350k per week
That’s ESR, the LANS of next season, you’re talking about.
Aouar Partey has only begun, Bro. Patience is a virtue.
Mikel Arteta had a Parteyl
All the Team were there
Nicky Pepe skewed out a beauty,
And Leno punched the air……..
Sorry?
Apology accepted, no effort is underestimated.
Time to prove a few doubting Thomases – mainly envious rival fans here in Nigeria – wrong.
No Thomas, No Partey!
They’re not envious – just wise to the fact that he won’t be able to do it all himself.
I am not sure the expectation is that he does it by himself; but they are quick to remind us of Pepe and the euphoria that trailed his signing.
They are all hoping Thomas has the same first season Pepe had.
I see him making a good partnership with the rest of our midfielders. Our midfield will definitely improve. He alone can win us matches.
Wrong.
He won’t be able to do it all on his own.
You’ll learn……
Love this guy already. I’m sure all our mouths are watering to finally see a world class midfielder in our team. The first one we’ve had since Cesc. Xhaka/Partey/Ceballos, or even Elneny/Partey/Ceballos sounds like a very solid midfield.
Solid but boring.
You really are a toxic moron. Even the most biased Spud couldn’t more negative
The Aouar midfield would be different arguably more balanced With Partey we have a midfield with more strength at its base where as if we had Aouar we would have more bias towards an offensive defense. I think with Partey to keep offensive parity, preferably we have both Xhaka and Ceballos either in a tradtional traingle (if assuming with Magalhaes maybe and perhaps Luiz or Mari, we can in time revert to back 4) Aoaur we would be able to go inverted triangle more effectively with both Aoaur and ceballos hunting higher. The down side is the base with likely… Read more »
He’s looking forward to playing with Granit but he’ll like Ceballos too.
Looking forward to seeing if he can truly provide the carry from deep which we have missed for some time now since we lost Santi 2015 without replacement.