Partey And Co Ushering In New Era At Arsenal

Summer signing Thomas Partey and Arsenal’s young brigade in Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka are ushering in a new era for the Gunners.

If anyone was wondering just how important Thomas Partey is to Arsenal, then look no further than his 67-minute cameo against Newcastle as he dominated the midfield. Facing a stubborn and solid defensive set up in the first half, Partey looked to be the instigator to push his side forward, rarely passing backward or sideways.

His pass to release Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang at the start of the second half was superb and the fact is, he makes Arsenal tick going forward. Always willing to accept the ball and move it on as well as be industrious in the middle of the park, against Newcastle he was a monster.

Arsenal struggled to break down Crystal Palace just a couple of days ago and faced a similar set up against Newcastle. One could argue that Palace had the better players to be able to hold that shape for an entire match however Newcastle did in their FA Cup match. They frustrated the Gunners and if it were a league match, they would have walked away with a point.

So what was the difference between the Palace and Newcastle match? No.18. It was just his third start for the Gunners, and he has already shown his qualities however the impressive result against Newcastle was not his own doing, he had help.

Emile Smith Rowe is emerging as a genuine No.10 in the Premier League with many comparing him to Manchester City ace Kevin De Bruyne. Big wraps for a 20-year-old and his form over the last month has coincided with Arsenal’s upturn in form too.

He has been the creative piece that Arsenal has so desperately lacked on countless occasions this season. Smith Rowe got himself another assist and in his last 10 matches, he has either scored or assisted in seven of them, not bad for a 20-year-old.

Then there is Bukayo Saka. Another one of Arsenal’s supremely talented youngsters. Saka got himself on the score sheet against Newcastle with a well-taken finish and he, and along with Smith Rowe, have been the catalysts for Arsenal’s recent form and that is without Partey.

If the Newcastle win taught us anything, it is that with Partey in the midfield and Smith Rowe and Saka going forward there are finally signs of life for an Arsenal side that was dead in the water just a couple of months ago.

With Mesut Ozil finally leaving the Emirates, Partey, along with a host of younger stars in Smith Rowe and Saka are set to be the driving force for Arsenal for the foreseeable future. The illnesses that forced Willian and David Luiz out of the side late last year have been a blessing in disguise as if it were not for that, who knows if Smith Rowe would have got a chance.

The chance has been taken with both hands and even if a playmaker does come in this window, he will have to outperform Smith Rowe to get a look in. Gabriel is still to come back into the fold and with some reinforcements in January, a top-four spot now is seemingly reachable.

There is optimism around the club and with Partey showing his qualities and Arsenal’s young stars continuing to shine, suddenly this side looks like a completely different beast.