Arsenal star is proving he is’s on a level with Casemiro and Rodri as Premier League leaders Arsenal thrashed Nottingham Forest 5-0 at the Emirates Stadium, former England international Darren Bent tells talkSPORT (31 October, 4pm).
10 months ago, the former Atletico Madrid enforcer rated his performances in Arsenal red an underwhelming ‘4/10’. One wonders what he score he would give himself these days.
While the remarkable emergence of midfield team-mate Granit Xhaka has dominated many a column inch this term, Partey also deserves major credit for the way he has silenced his critics in North London.
His passing looks sharper than ever. His tackling and anticipation too. Partey, who once had supporters ducking in fear when lining up one of his trademark 25-yard potshots, is finding the back of the net with increasingly regularity days too, following up his screamer in against Tottenham with another wonderful effort against Forest.
And, after a draw with Southampton, a lucky win at Leeds, and a midweek defeat to PSV Eindhoven, Sunday’s five-star display against Forest was exactly what the doctor ordered.
THOMAS PARTEY SHINES AS ARSENAL HAMMER NOTTINGHAM FOREST
“I get the outside noise. People were talking about the last couple of performances,” says Gunners fanatic Bent. “Leeds, we weren’t great. Southampton, the draw, weren’t great. Getting beat by PSV. (Critics were saying) they’ve fallen off a cliff, they’re done.
“And to put that type of performance in was brilliant.”
Partey thundered home Arsenal’s fourth of the afternoon, following Gabriel Martinelli’s clever header and two from substitute Reiss Nelson. The Arsenal academy graduate, on for an injured Bukayo Saka, scored more goals inside three minutes against Forest than he managed in his previous 23 Premier League outings put together.
Martin Odegaard then put the icing on the cake with a classy left-footed finish late on.
“Fair play to Reiss Nelson; came on, made and impact and scored two great goals,” Bent adds.
“Some standout performances. Martinelli, going from strength to strength. We’ve just spoken about Reiss Nelson. Thomas Partey; Wow. People talk about Casemiro, Rodri; Partey is in that bracket, 100 per cent. He’s been that good.”
