Comparing Thomas Partey’s 2019-20 stats to Arsenal’s current midfielders

Planet Football • 23 Apr 2020

Arsenal have been linked with Thomas Partey for a number of months, but there are mixed messages coming from the Atletico Madrid midfielder’s camp regarding how close a deal may be to being agreed.

Partey’s father recently claimed Arsenal were in negotiations for the 26-year-old, although the player’s agent have refuted such speculation.

We’ve compared Partey’s 2019-20 stats from the La Liga campaign to the corresponding Premier League stats of Arsenal’s existing central midfield options: Dani Ceballos, Granit Xhaka, Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira.

Goals and assists

While Partey is primarily a holding midfielder noted for his work off the ball, the Ghana international has still chipped in with two goals, albeit no assists, in La Liga this term at an average of a goal or assist every 920.5 minutes.

In comparison, Ceballos has provided no goals and two assists (one every 456 minutes), Xhaka one assist in 1,908 minutes, Guendouzi one assist in 1,591 minutes and Torreira a goal and assist at an average of one every 686 minutes.

Atlético Madrid are working to extend Thomas Partey’s contract. Many clubs interested (Arsenal too), Simeone wants to keep him. Key player. Thomas will decide his future soon. https://t.co/ZQ4Sd9ET8O

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 20, 2020

Passing and attacking

From his defensive midfield role, Partey averages 0.8 chances created per 90 minutes.

That places him firmly in the middle of Arsenal’s current options. Ceballos is out in front with 1.5 per 90 and Torreira is marginally ahead of Partey with 0.9 per 90. Guendouzi (0.7 per 90) and Xhaka (0.6 per 90) are slightly behind.

Partey, however, is bottom of the pile in terms of passing accuracy, with his 83.1% record lower than Torreira (87.9%), Xhaka (88.1%), Guendouzi (88.2%) and Ceballos (88.9%).

The Atleti man at least makes up for that by offering dynamism from midfield in terms of dribbles. His average of 2.2 successful dribbles per 90 in La Liga is the best of the quintet, with Ceballos averaging 1.6 per 90, Torreira 1.1, Guendouzi 1.0 and Xhaka 0.9.

Defensive contributions

The side of the game Partey on which is likely to be most judged, his average of 2.5 tackles per 90 minutes is bettered only by Ceballos, who averages 2.7 per 90.

Torreira is next with 1.9 per 90, closely followed by Xhaka (1.8) and Guendouzi (1.7).

It’s interesting to note that, alongside Partey (69.4%), Xhaka (64.3%) is the only other player with a tackle success rate of over 60%.

Only Torreira (2.0) betters Partey’s 1.6 interceptions per 90 minutes. Guendouzi averages 1.5 per 90, followed by Ceballos (1.2) and Xhaka (0.7)