Mikel Arteta's side won their second consecutive English Premier League game of the 2023–2024 season despite having a player sent off.
Thomas Partey, the Black Stars’ resilient defensive midfielder, was used as a right-back in Arsenal’s second game, and he lived up to expectations at Selhurst Park last Monday night.
Arsenal rose to the occasion at Selhurst Park, scoring from a penalty spot in the second half to earn their second consecutive victory on their second visit.
After Gabriel Martinelli’s quick free-kick, the 24-year-old Edward Nketiah was fouled by goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, earning a penalty, and surprisingly, Martin Odegaard stepped up to take the shot.
The 2023–2024 Community Shield Cup winners were resolute in repelling their opponents’ incursions, despite a member of the defence, Takehiro Tomiyasu, receiving a second yellow card in the game by referee David Coote.
There was a lot of discussion about Partey’s position in the game, as he played as a right-back for the second time in a row after having the same role in last week’s victory over Nottingham Forest.
There were rumours that the Ghanaian midfielder would leave the club after Declan Rice arrived, but it appears that Arteta has a plan for the former Atletico Madrid player.
After the game against Nottingham Forest, Mikel Arteta described Partey’s new role in his team, stating that Partey has given Arsenal more fluidity and occupied certain spaces in terms of how they were defending.
And, interestingly, Thomas Partey continued from where his head coach recommended him, forming a solid partnership with Ben White and William Saliba at Selhurst Park following Tomiyasu’s suspension.
In the game against Crystal Palace last Monday night, the midfielder who scored Ghana’s goal against Nigeria to secure World Cup qualification in 2022 put up impressive stats that made him indispensable.
Partey made 74 touches, engaged in 50 accurate passes, and resulted in an 86.2% pass accuracy. As a right-back, he succeeded in 7 passes in the opponent’s final third, made 4 out of 6 accurate long balls, created 2 chances, made 6 recoveries, and made 1 interception.
