- Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over West Ham at the Emirates should have been remembered for the Gunners’ dominance and their climb up the Premier League table. Instead, the post-match conversation was hijacked by scathing remarks from a club legend, who openly criticized Thomas Partey’s performance and questioned whether he still fits into Mikel Arteta’s system.
The Arsenal icon, speaking after the game, didn’t sugarcoat his thoughts. While he acknowledged the importance of the result, he insisted that Partey’s display was far from acceptable. For him, the Ghanaian midfielder has gone from being a trusted enforcer to a player whose presence threatens to slow down Arsenal’s progress.
“Starting him today for Arsenal was a mistake,” the legend said bluntly. “He looks off the pace, struggles to move the ball quickly, and isn’t offering the control he once did. This team is trying to play fast, modern football, but Partey is slowing them down. If Arteta wants to keep pushing forward, he has to make a tough call and drop him.”
Those words hit hard. Partey, once hailed as the midfield rock Arsenal desperately needed, is now coming under increasing scrutiny. His lack of sharpness, tendency to misplace passes, and vulnerability when pressed are causing frustration among both pundits and supporters.
When Arsenal signed Partey from Atlético Madrid in 2020, hopes were sky-high. The Ghanaian international was seen as the missing piece in Arteta’s midfield puzzle — a player with Champions League pedigree who could bring physicality, composure, and world-class quality. For a while, he delivered glimpses of that promise. But in recent months, inconsistency and fitness struggles have plagued his form.
In Arteta’s fluid system, where speed, intensity, and precision are essential, Partey often looks a step behind. Against West Ham, despite Arsenal controlling the match, he was guilty of giving the ball away cheaply and failing to dominate midfield as he once did. While players like Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard thrived, Partey looked like a passenger rather than a leader.
The Arsenal fanbase is starting to lose patience. Social media platforms were flooded with angry reactions after the game, with many urging Arteta to consider dropping the midfielder. “Partey has been poor for months,” one supporter wrote. “We can’t keep carrying him if we want to compete with City.” Another added: “Arteta needs to trust Rice as the permanent anchor. Partey’s time is up.”
This frustration is building momentum. For many, Partey represents the past — a signing that once inspired hope but no longer matches the intensity of Arsenal’s evolving squad. With the likes of Jorginho and younger midfielders waiting in the wings, the pressure on Partey to deliver is greater than ever.
The dilemma now rests on Arteta’s shoulders. Does he keep faith in the experienced Ghanaian, hoping he can rediscover his form, or does he make the ruthless decision to move him out of the starting XI for the sake of the team’s balance? It’s a tough call, especially given Partey’s reputation and the hefty price tag that brought him to North London.
What’s clear is that Arsenal are a club in transition, chasing silverware with a young, hungry core. If Partey cannot adapt and raise his game, he risks becoming surplus to requirements. And with legends and fans voicing their concerns so loudly, the pressure on him to deliver has never been greater.
The coming weeks will be decisive. For Partey, it could be the difference between reclaiming his role as a midfield general or slipping further down the pecking order. For Arsenal, it could be the moment Arteta proves he’s willing to make ruthless decisions to keep the team on the path to glory.
