Thomas Partey admits he needs to return to his best | OneFootball

Thomas Partey is aware Arsenal are counting on him, and he vows to keep trying to return to his best form with the club.

Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey during the Premier League match between Burnley and Arsenal at Turf Moor, Burnley, England on 18 September 2021. Copyright: Simon Davies

For whatever reason, things just haven’t been clicking for Thomas Partey lately.

The midfielder had a particularly disappointing performance at Old Trafford on Thursday, but it wasn’t the first time he’s been well off his best this season.

The 28-year-old just doesn’t seem able to find any consistency at the moment, and his usually effective progressive passing has been way off.

After the Manchester United defeat, Partey gave his thoughts on Arsenal’s current standing and on his own form.

“The team is improving, and everyone is doing their best,” Partey said.

“For me, I have to keep on doing my best, keep trying, keep improving, try to come back to my best, because the team needs me, the team needs us.

“I think we’re improving each day and it’s going to be good.

“If we want to be at the top, it’s normal that we have to fight, we have to be under control and try to win the games.

“We have to think of our next game, we have to do better and also to win.”

Arsenal v Wimbledon 22 September 2021, London – Carabao Cup Football – Arsenal v AFC Wimbledon – Will Nightingale of AFC Wimbledon and Thomas Partey of Arsenal smiles – Photo: Charlotte Wilson / Offside.

You can make excuses for Partey, given the inconsistency of his midfield partners (going from Xhaka to Odegaard to Lokonga to Elneny) and the fact he spent so long out injured last season.

But he’s one of few experienced players in this Arsenal side, and Mikel Arteta really needs the Ghana international to step up now.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Partey gave himself a rating of four out of ten, saying he still hasn’t adapted to the Premier League.

“Personally, I would say five or six [out of 10] but with the marks of the people outside, I’d give myself a four, because there are moments in the game where I can be really hurting the other team but there are also moments, because I’m not yet adapted to the Premier League, where maybe I allow myself to lose focus and that’s when everything goes down,” he said.

“From the start [of the 3-2 defeat to Manchester United on Thursday] I had a couple of moments where I gave two balls away and someone watching on TV from home or in the stadium, it is normal that they see this.

“At the end, I have to be happy with some moments, I have to learn from the bad parts and try to do better. I think they demanded more and personally I know I can give more. I have to keep working and at the end I will get the results.”