Arsenal have had a very strong Premier League campaign under Mikel Arteta this time around.
With 17 games played, the Gunners have won 14 of them, drawing two and losing just one, putting them five points clear at the top of the league table.
One figure in Arteta’s squad that has played a big part in the campaign so far is Thomas Partey, who has played in 14 of Arsenal’s 17 league matches.
The midfielder’s overall performances have earned him a strong season rating of 7.2/10 from WhoScored, making him the sixth-highest rated player at the club.
Despite Partey’s impressive efforts this season, the north London club have been linked with a player who we feel would be an upgrade on the Ghanaian – Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
Comparing the two players from their current domestic campaigns prior to Lazio’s league match against Empoli, the £100k-per-week Serbian has shown which areas he could be an improvement on Partey.
For example, from an attacking point of view, Milinkovic-Savic has a higher rate of shots at goal per 90 minutes than Partey (1.63 vs 1.19) as well as making more key passes than him (20 vs 12).
Then from a defensive standpoint, the Lazio star has made more blocks (19 vs 9) and clearances (24 vs 23) than the Arsenal figure, in addition to making more tackles in the defensive third of the pitch (11 vs 9).
Have you been impressed with Thomas Partey this season?
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His overall season rating of 7.33/10 from WhoScored, which makes him the highest-rated player at Lazio for the season also eclipses Partey’s rating at Arsenal.
Hailed as a “phenomenal” player by journalist Jerry Mancini on Twitter, the 27-year-old would definitely add some strength and depth to Arteta’s squad and possibly put Partey’s place in the team at risk.
Moving forward, if an opportunity to secure a deal for the Serbia international arises this month or during the next summer transfer window, the Gunners should definitely explore the possibility of bringing him to the Emirates.