Mikel Arteta tips returning Arsenal star to have ‘really big impact’ in title race
Mikel Arteta has backed Arsenal star Thomas Partey to have a ‘really big impact’ in the Premier League title race amid his return to full fitness.
Partey has only featured in four top-flight games this term amid injury problems but the midfielder is expected to return against Sheffield United on Monday.
The Ghana international was a key cog in Arsenal’s title challenge last season and Arteta cannot wait to see the partnership he can build up with Declan Rice.
Rice, who moved to Arsenal in the summer for £105m, played with Partey in midfield for the Community Shield triumph over Manchester City in August.
Since then, though, Partey has been deployed at right-back before injury problems forced him into an extended spell on the sidelines.
Quizzed if Rice could help Partey perform to an even higher level, Arteta said: ‘For sure.
‘I will have to see that chemistry on the pitch, and those qualities, and the things we have to treat around to make sure they play to their strengths and make each other better. But I think that will be a very powerful midfield.
think they only played in the Community Shield together in midfield. That tells you how much we have missed Thomas.
‘To play the whole season – and a player like him who has not played much with us – the impact he can have for the next three months can be really big.’
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