Roy Keane and Paul Scholes were both extremely complimentary of Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey after his display in the win over Manchester United on Sunday.
There’s no question that Thomas Partey dominated the midfield in Arsenal’s win over Manchester United at Old Trafford this weekend.
The summer signing completed 93% of his passes, including all five long balls. His only shot was on target, he beat his man with three of four attempted dribbles, won 10 of 14 individual duels, and made two interceptions and four tackles.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Partey won the Arsenal Man of the Match award, as well as the Sky Sports award. But he also won the praises of a couple of Manchester United legends, including former midfielders Roy Keane and Paul Scholes.
“He was outstanding,” Keane said. “He’s obviously no mug having played in big games. When you watch a player live, that’s when you can judge a player and the more I look at him the more I wish he was in the United midfield.
“He’s big, strong, and aggressive – and he can pass it forward. He can deal with the ball. I had my battles with Vieira and I think this kid has got a chance of matching what Patrick used to do.”
Scholes was just as impressed with the way Partey seemed to be able to do it all against United.
“He’s an all-round midfielder,” Scholes told Premier League Productions (via Metro). “You don’t see many players like that these days. Midfielders are attacking midfielders or holding midfielders but a midfield players’ job is to do everything.
“You have to contribute with everything and today he did a brilliant job in all departments.”
It’s only one game, but it’s one to add to the list of performances Partey has put in against top English opposition. Before joining Arsenal, he already had impressive displays against Liverpool, Chelsea, and Arsenal themselves in European competition.
As a starter, he’s only been on the losing side once in seven games against the English big-six. Even on that one occasion, he came off with the scores level at 1-1. Clearly, he likes the big games against the top sides in this country.