‘Quality’, ‘mentally very strong’: Edu raves about Arsenal newcomer

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Arsenal technical director Edu has waxed lyrical about Thomas Partey after the Gunners succeeded in bringing him to the Emirates Stadium.

The 27-year-old midfielder had been linked with Arsenal for a number of months and was said to be one of the number one targets for Mikel Arteta this summer.

Indeed, the Ghana international made the switch from Atletico Madrid to Arsenal on transfer deadline day, after the Gunners had triggered his £45million release clause.

Partey signed a long-term deal at the Emirates Stadium after he completed his medical and paperwork just before Monday’s 11pm deadline.

“We identified him a few months ago and we have been following his progress, and obviously the more you know about the squad, you know more about where you think you can improve it,” Edu told Arsenal.com.

“We believe he has the right qualities, with his character and his personality and as well with his technical qualities and positional options that he can give to the team.

“I think he allows us to play different formations and he can fit in within those formations in different positions, which is a really good thing to have in a squad where, in midfield, I think we were a little bit short.

“I have a few things in mind that I want to start to train with the team and [Partey’s signing] is going to give us a little bit more adaptability and more balance in defending and attacking transitions and the way we have to set up certain structures to attack better in certain moments of the game.”

Also in conversation with the Arsenal website, Edu said Partey would provide “physicality, quality and mentally he is very strong.”

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Even prior to deadline day, Arsenal had enjoyed a decent transfer window, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s new deal finally put that saga to an end.

However, a solid, high-calibre complete midfielder continued to elude the Gunners, and many fans were growing exasperated with the lack of movement on that front.

But all’s well that ends well, and following the international break, it’ll be great to see Partey in action for Arsenal, another step forward as the Arteta revolution rolls on.