Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, has expressed his desire for Thomas Partey to remain with the team, even with the addition of Declan Rice from West Ham. Despite rumors linking the Ghanaian midfielder with a move to Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, Arteta believes Partey is a key player in his plans.
Speaking ahead of their pre-season match against Manchester United, Arteta stated, “Without a question of a doubt, Thomas Partey is a super important player for us and for me. I want him to be in the team. Every time I spoke to him, his will is to stay with us. For me, there’s nothing there at all.”
Arteta also emphasized that the arrival of Rice does not diminish Partey’s role in the team. “They can play together and that was in my plans. We want to improve the squad and have more quality. We need players who can play together but also compete for their positions. This is something we haven’t had in recent years, and that’s why we bought Declan,” he explained.
Declan Rice makes a challenge on Thomas Partey last season
Arsenal had a successful season, finishing second in the Premier League, and Arteta believes this experience will benefit the team as they aim for further success. “What happened last year was necessary for us to learn lessons, improve, and achieve our goals. The level of competition is increasing, so we have to be better and play better than before,” he said.
Oleksandr Zinchenko, a player who impressed in his first season after joining from Manchester City, shares Arteta’s confidence in Arsenal’s potential. “I have the feeling that Arsenal’s time is coming. We learned many lessons last season, and it will help us in the next one. Let’s see what happens,” Zinchenko expressed.
Zinchenko, who has faced challenges off the field due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, urged people to continue supporting their fight for freedom and independence. He stressed the importance of unity and perseverance, as the battle could affect any country in the future.
