Arsenal player says one teammate is ‘so strong physically’
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Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has raved about his new teammate Thomas Partey on the club’s official website.
Aubameyang is pleased to have the Ghana international midfielder in his team at Arsenal and has hailed the impact he has already made on the side.
The Gabon international striker has also outlined the physical attributes of the 27-year-old midfielder.
“Thomas has been great since joining the club,” Aubameyang told Arsenal’s official website. “He has integrated so well in the squad.
“He is kind, calm and smiley. On the pitch, we have seen already seen what he will bring us in matches. He is so strong physically but yet so good on the ball as well.
“We didn’t really have a profile like this in our squad before. In terms of ball progression, beating the press, going forward, he will be very important for us.
“My family is from Gabon but I also have some roots in Ghana where Thomas is from so we are family too! It is good for some of our younger players as well to have a player like him, of his calibre at training. They will learn a lot from him.”
Immediate impact at Arsenal
Partey joined Arsenal on the final day of the summer transfer window from Atletico Madrid.
As reported by BBC Sport, the Gunners paid Atletico the 27-year-old’s full release clause of £45.3 million.
The 27-year-old made his debut for Mikel Arteta’s side in the Premier League game against Manchester City away from home at the Etihad Stadium last weekend.
The Ghana international did not start the match, but he came on as a substitute in the 83rd minute.
Although Partey did not have enough time to make an impact on the game, which City won 1-0, Arteta told Football.London that the midfielder “looked good” when he came on.
Partey made his full debut on Thursday evening in the Europa League Group B game against Rapid Vienna away from home in Austria.
The former Atletico star produced a superb display and dominated the middle of the park.
Partey took one shot, played one key pass, had a pass accuracy of 90.2%, won four headers, took 102 touches, and made five tackles, one interception and one clearance.
Arsenal boss Arteta was hugely impressed with the performance of Partey, and told Football.London that the Ghana international “held midfield by himself in the second half” and “looked really solid, really comfortable”.
Partey has made a good start to life at Arsenal and will be a big player in the Gunners’ quest to finish in the top four of the Premier League table this season.