Ray Parlour explains what Thomas Partey is going to bring Arsenal

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Ray Parlour believes that new Arsenal signing Thomas Partey is going to bring some real power to the team’s midfield, which is why he’s also made a comparison to club legend Patrick Vieira.

The Gunners secured the signature of Partey on the transfer window’s deadline day at the beginning of the month and he’s now set to take on the Premier League for the first time in his career, after making a real name for himself in Spain with Atletico Madrid.

Partey, 27, is a no-nonsense central midfielder that has added some extra steel to the Atletico XI in recent years and has great top level experience on the Champions League stage, so the expectation is high on him to be a success at the Emirates Stadium.

The Ghana international has been training with Mikel Arteta’s side ahead of the weekend and he’s in contention to make his Arsenal debut in a huge Premier League fixture away to Manchester City.

Parlour is confident that Partey is going to be a success in North London, with a comparison to former star Vieira certainly cranking the pressure up on him.

Retired Frenchman Vieira is regarded as one of the Premier League’s greatest ever midfielders, as he used to run through teams with his sheer pace and power.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing Partey. They haven’t got the energy in that midfield and Partey will bring that,” Parlour told talkSPORT.

“I’ve seen him play quite a few times for Atletico and he’s very effective. I’m really looking forward to see how he copes in the Premier League as well. Hopefully he’s going to play a major part if there is any success moving forward for Arsenal, trying to get in that top four.

“I think Arteta highlighted him early and said right he’s the sort of player we need in that midfield area, because they are a bit lightweight at times in central midfield. I know it’s very difficult to get a replacement of Patrick Vieira, but they’ve not really got someone like him and I think Partey could be close to being as good as Patrick.”

TBR’s View:

Parlour is confident that Arsenal’s new enforcer is going to help strengthen them in the centre of the park and on paper he’s got the physicality to do just that, but whether he can deal with the pressure is another thing that is yet to be answered.

Arteta has enjoyed a brilliant impact at the Emirates since becoming manager and as a result they are now starting to look up the table.

Many are expecting Partey to be the missing piece of the puzzle to at least secure a top four finish and he may well be if he hits the ground running, but he will need to adjust to a completely new style of playing from the one he’s used to at Atletico.