Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has received praise for his role in the Gunner’s second goal in their 2:0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers in their league opener on Saturday.
Partey was involved in his side’s first goal after his attempt at heading the ball created an opening for Kai Havert to nod home Bukayo Saka’s intelligent cross in the 25th minute.
Partey’s quick thinking came into play again in the 74th minute when Arsenal was awarded a free kick. The Ghanaian sprinted forward to set up the attack that led to the second goal by Saka.
Arsenal’s matchday analyst Adrian Clark praised his quick thinking and added that while Arsenal has become dangerous at set plays, the team “showed the value of quick thinking from dead-ball situations too.”
“We were finally rewarded for a piece of bright play from a set piece. Thomas Partey deserves credit for sprinting across to play a pass to Havertz, identifying that a 2v1 was on for Saka to torment left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri.”
“With red shirts deliberately staying away from our No. 7, leaving him with space to run at his marker, Saka duly obliged with a terrific left-foot strike to seal the victory.”
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s pursuit of Real Sociedad and Spain international Mikel Merino increasingly puts Partey’s stay with the Gunners in doubt as his contract is due to run out at the end of the current season. The 2024 Euro winner was excluded from Real Sociedad’s team last weekend in the Spanish league.
