Hey there it’s Raj from 3CB.
Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey has been transfer linked to multiple big name
clubs, flames of interest that were likely only stoked higher after his excellent performance
against Athletic Club in the team’s first game back after the COVID-19 restart.
In this video, I’ll explain three of Thomas’ foundational strengths - ball winning, ball
carrying, and ball distribution - and his positional fit, specifically at Arsenal who
are reportedly very keen on acquiring the player.
Thomas predominantly plays as a #6 - holding defensive midfielder - in Diego Simeone’s
rigid 4-4-2 style, tasked with winning the ball back effectively and efficiently, which
he does quite well with an average of 15 successful defensive ground and aerial actions and nearly
5 interceptions per 90 minutes.
He routinely showcases an array of defensive skills
At times, it’s like he’s a hunter stalking his prey
Thomas has shown the ability to take on defenders effectively, completing 2.2 out of 2.54 dribbles
per game - a success rate of 86.6% - which is second only to Bayern Munich’s Thiago
Alcantara for players in Europe’s top five league who have attempted more than 50+ take-ons.
The low volume of dribbles is indicative of his defensive mid role but the high efficiency
potentially hints at an ability to player higher up the pitch in a #8 role.
Lastly, Thomas is able to combine his ball winning and carrying abilities to quickly
transition from defense to attack, creating advantageous positions.
Thomas’ final key strength is his distribution ability, completing 83.1% of his passes overall
and nearly 21 forward passes per game from a central hub position.
Out of the four Atleti mids who have played more than 15 games this season, Thomas plays
the most passes per game,
the most forward passes,
and the most progressive passes.
He’s further shown the ability to get involved higher up the pitch with nearly 9 passes per
game into the final 1/3.
Thomas’ versatility and gritty, relentless mentality would fit quite well into the spine
of Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s preferred 4-2-3-1 staggered midfield formation.
Arteta could deploy Thomas as a balanced #6 to play behind Granit Xhaka, who under the
tutelage of Arteta has transformed into an efficient and effective attack-minded hub.
Thomas could mitigate some of Xhaka’s higher risk tendencies and defensive deficits, such
as his slow defensive footedness.
Further, Thomas could be deployed in a similar role behind Matteo Guendouzi to form a more
conservative pivot.
With Matteo’s greater defensive capability but difficulty taking on defenders - relative
to Xhaka - this tandem could be more effective against deep-sitting teams, with both players
looking to break the lines via forward distribution.
Lastly, Thomas could be used as a #8 to play in front of Lucas Torreira, who excels in
a defensive role.
Thomas’ strengths complement Torreira’s weaknesses quite well - particularly the Urugauyan’s
lack of forward distribution - and the duo could form a balanced, well rounded midfield pivot.
This is all speculation of course and only time will tell on Thomas’ future, with any
potential transfer made significantly more complicated by the COVID-19 financial constraints
and uncertainty.
That’s a wrap for this video.
Thanks for watching.
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