‘I would give myself 4/10’
Thomas Partey has rated his Arsenal career so far a ‘4/10’, but the midfielder has vowed to improve and deliver more consistent performances.
The Ghana international arrived at the Emirates from Atletico Madrid in October 2020 after the Gunners activated his £45m release clause.
However, he endured a difficult first season in the Premier League, with injury setbacks limiting him to just 18 league starts in the 2020/21 campaign.
The 28-year-old has since spoken about his desire to improve his game – at both ends of the pitch – while also rating his Arsenal career to date.
“I give myself four [out of 10], because there are moments I can really hurt the other team but there are also moments where I allow myself to lose focus and that’s when everything goes down,” Partey told Sky Sports News.
“This is when you realise that you have to get better.”
Despite suffering an ankle injury in pre-season which saw him miss the Gunners’ first three fixtures of the season, the former Atletico man believes that an extended run in the team will help him to improve.
🗣 "I would give myself 4/10"
Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey rates his performances for #AFC since he joined the club…pic.twitter.com/ZAVZ96sJYu
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 6, 2021
He also insisted that he would work on his consistency after he received criticism for his role in Arsenal’s 3-2 defeat to Manchester United last week, adding that he is confident improvements will come if his continues to work hard.
“From the start [of the Manchester United game] I had a couple of moments where I gave two balls away and someone watching on TV from home or in the stadium, it is normal that they see this,” Partey added.
“At the end, I have to be happy with some moments, I have to learn from the bad parts and try to do better. I think they demanded more and personally I know I can give more. I have to keep working and at the end I will get the results.”
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has set Partey the challenge of becoming a ‘boss in midfield’ and use his leadership skills to help guide a relatively young Arsenal side.
Partey said: “From the defence to the attack, I can help the team a lot.
“I have to read more of the game. Now I am having a lot of continuous games, it is normal that some games, or some moments in the games, I will be down.
“With more games, with more confidence, I will be able to get to where I want to be.”
Arsenal travel to Goodison Park on Monday night to face-off against Everton in the Premier League, hoping to bounce back from their defeat to United last week.
Related links:
- Mikel Arteta had to push Thomas Partey back onto pitch to defend second Spurs goal
- Thierry Henry says Arsenal get ‘smashed’ whenever they play a ‘big team’
- Jadon Sancho: “Arsenal were interested in him. You hear that and assume it’s a formality”
