Arsenal legend Gilberto Silva has suggested that Thomas Partey is the player that the club were “missing” before his move.
After impressing at the 2002 World Cup, Silva joined Arsenal that summer ahead of the 2002/03 Premier League season.
The midfielder proved to be a great asset for the Gunners as he made just short of 250 appearances for them from his six years at the club.
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The Brazillian was part of the invincible team that won the Premier League title in 2003/04. He is also a two-time winner of the FA Cup. He left Arsenal in 2008 and he retired with Atletico Mineiro in 2013.
The defensive midfield position has been a thorn in their side since Silva’s departure. But now it appears as they have successfully filled that spot.
Long-term target Thomas Partey joined the Gunners last summer from Atletico Madrid. The 27-year-old joined on deadline day after they activated his release clause of around £45m. He has played 18 times for the Londoners so far this season.
Silva recently told Stadium Astro that Partey makes his teammates look better:
“He’s a good player. He’s the type of player Arsenal were missing, I’ve spoken a couple of times about it.
“They have good players in the [central midfield] position but not to sit and give Arsenal the stability they have.
“Look at the game [against Spurs] it was great to see how he managed his game, how he managed that position, helping.
“You know what is very important about this particular position? This is a very particular position because not every time you get the credit you deserve.
“That’s okay, it’s fine, because you have to understand that. But this guy, when he understands the position like Partey, look at his game: he made the others a lot better.
“He makes [Granit] Xhaka look better in the game, he made the defenders look a lot better and comfortable when the ball was against them.
“I think the way he manages games, the way he positions himself, is very important for Arsenal.
“He is the kind of player Arsenal have needed for quite a long time in my opinion.”
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