Partey set to leave Arsenal – Good decision or not for the Gunners? Thomas Partey’s time at Arsenal might be coming to an end after reports emerged that contract renewal talks between his representatives and the club reached an impasse.
The 32-year-old was available for the Gunners last season, featuring at right-back and in midfield as the North London side reached the semifinals of the Champions League and the League Cup. Mikel Arteta’s side also finished second in the Premier League.
Partey, who joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid in 2020, is keen to remain at the Emirates Stadium, but it appears his demands are from what the club is offering. Hence, the breakdown in talks between the two parties.
On the other hand, many fans are keen on Arsenal tickets for the 2025/26 season.
The current situation between Arsenal and Partey
According to multiple reports, talks are not progressing between Arsenal and Thomas Partey.
It is believed that the offer on the table from Arsenal is far from the evaluation of Partey’s camp. In addition, Partey’s representatives reportedly want a similar pay structure to the first contract he signed with the club back in 2020 upon arrival from Atletico Madrid.
The Ghanaian midfielder has been a loyal servant of the club since that big-money move, but it appears he could be leaving the club at the end of June when his contract expires.
Partey has played more than 160 games for the club, scoring nine goals. He was ruled out injured for a large part of the 2023-24 season, but he came back stronger last season to play a key role for the Gunners. Apart from the Community Shield win over Manchester City in 2023, Partey’s time in London have not produced big titles.
Meanwhile, Partey is believed to have offers from Turkey and has been linked with Barcelona in recent weeks.
Partey desires to stay
Partey has not hidden his desire to remain at the club. The Ghanaian, in a previous chat, said his family will be an important factor in deciding his future.
‘I think the first thing is where are you happy and where do you feel at home. At the end of the day you’ve been in football, you’ve been in different teams.
‘Then it’s about what is your next objective what do you want to achieve next. You still have to look at all this and at the end of the day we all have a family that needs money, this is our mind.
‘We are not getting younger. There are a lot of things where you have to look now with a family, where you want them to be happy. When you are young you just play anywhere.
‘I’m an Arsenal fan, I can’t decide anything and just have to leave it to my agent and the club. I just want to enjoy football.’
Partey continued: ‘I think they will say about the availability because I was available throughout the whole season(2024/25), so of course they will say that.’
‘Every moment, every year or every time in training there I feel I’ve been in my best because I can’t count how many games I was not giving all my best.
‘Sometimes it may go bad but every game I go all out and try to give my best. I feel happy in me, every year injury or no injury which is part of it I have given my best,’ the 32-year-old concluded.
In the 2024-25 season, Partey missed just three Premier League games for Arsenal, scoring four goals and claiming two assists, as the Gunners came second for the third consecutive campaign.
Pundit on Arsenal allowing Thomas Partey to leave
Former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol, speaking on ESPN, said he does not understand why the Gunners are thinking of letting Partey leave the Emirates.
“I think what would it mean for Declan Rice? I mean, it seemed to me that Declan Rice is probably going to be the one who suffers most out of this because he’s going to have to drop deep.
“You know, Declan Rice last year, in my opinion, pushed himself from being a defensive midfielder who won the ball, got it back, and gave it to others to a guy who was actually carrying the ball forward, getting in the opposition penalty box, and creating problems.
“So, I think I think he’s going to be affected more than anybody else. And I don’t understand it. You know, Thomas Partey last year was absolutely one of the defensive rocks that that team has been built on over the years. So for them to lose him, that means a team that, in my opinion, needed one spot up front.
“Put all your money into that position. That’s the position, and that’s the spot that can maybe win you the Premier League to now; they’re going to have to use some of that money to replace Partey. If they don’t resign him. So, every which way you look, it weakens Arsenal. It weakens them from Declan Rice’s point of view. It weakens them from a financial point of view. It weakens them being able to go and spend a lot of money on a centre forward, and ultimately it weakens them defensively,” Nicol concluded.
The Verdict: Right Time for a Clean Break
So, is Partey leaving a good decision for Arsenal? On balance, yes. It’s never easy to say goodbye to a player of Partey’s talent. At his best, he controlled games, shielded the backline, and connected play with elegance and authority.
Having done well last season, there is no guarantee that the 32-year-old midfielder will be available during the run-in next season. Undoubtedly, Partey did well in his deep role, as Declan Rice thrived last season. The Ghanaian gave the backline adequate protection and was also an option at right-back at some point. However, now seems to be the perfect time for both parties to part ways. Jorginho has already left, so if Partey leaves now, it allows Arteta to build his midfield again. Meanwhile, the Gunners have Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad inbound already.
In truth, it is difficult to let Partey go, but in terms of age and his wages, it is probably just smart to do that and bring someone younger in. If Arsenal and Arteta can get another midfielder apart from Zubimendi, losing Partey would not be considered a bad decision.