Tierney: We can’t get ahead of ourselves

“It’s a joyful moment” – Partey bigs up in-form Gunners

Norwich 0-5 Arsenal: By the numbers

Arteta: Odegaard glides us together

Report: Roma to sign Maitland-Niles on loan in January

Thomas Partey says Arsenal are playing with the mentality demanded by coach Mikel Arteta and that it’s “joyful” playing alongside his teammates at the moment.

This time last month, the Ghana international looked down in the dumps as he rated his performances a “four” out of 10 but with the Gunners finding their stride – yesterday’s 5-0 win over Norwich made it five wins on the bounce in all competitions – the 28-year-old looks far more authoritative in the centre of the park.

At Carrow Road, Arsenal’s newfound attacking ruthlessness was again on show as Bukayo Saka, twice, Kieran Tierney, Alex Lacazette and Emile Smith Rowe secured the biggest away league win since a 6-1 win against Everton in 2009.

In an interview with Arsenal.com, Partey said of his teammates: “It is very enjoyable, I enjoy a lot playing with them.

“They are good talents, a lot of people around that can play with them and they have a lot of quality in front of goal and they can score at any time, so it is a joyful moment playing with them.

“We feel very happy. This is a game we really enjoyed. We have had a couple of games now where the team is doing very well and performing and I think this is what we have to keep doing.

“I think we are working harder, we are doing what we have to do, everyone is playing their role very well and that is the mentality that the coach wants us to play with and enjoy on the field and that is what we are doing.”

It’s a shame for the Gunners that Thomas has to depart for the African Cup of Nations next week. On the plus side, he will have one final game – against Manchester City on New Year’s Day – to strut his stuff. The manager will then have a big decision as to who fills the void for a few weeks.

Given Mo Elneny is also heading off on international duty and Ainsley Maitland-Niles has been linked with AS Roma, Sambi Lokonga seems the most likely candidate although  Martin Odegaard and Emile Smith Rowe can also operate deeper.

This is fast becoming a very special team. I know we will have some bumps along the way. Maybe we don’t end up too near top 4 this season. But even with my hugely cynical Arsenal supporters hat on, it’s hard to not think that provided this group of players stays together and fit, that we can’t mount a serious challenge in the coming years. Maybe we are still a couple of signings away. But when you’ve got the mercurial talent we have in the side, it seems inevitable that this side are able to push for the title in…  Read more »

I would add that this is on the proviso that Pep fucks off and Liverpool go through their inevitable rebuild.

You’re right, I think that’s why it’s pivotal that the next few signings are good ones. There was that time in the late 00s when we were just a sensible signing or two away from being a title winning side. They were never made and the team disintegrated. In the short term we stayed in the black but we lost our standing, prestige and eventually all the stars of that team because we failed to add the final ingredients. Arguably that had knock on effects, sporting and financial, for a decade. I don’t want to see us in massive debt…  Read more »

A big fast modern forward that contributes in build up and bangs in the goals is the missing link here.

Partey is just a joy to watch, when he plays like he did yesterday. A real presence in midfield. Especially those inverted passes that he and Ødegaard are so good at adds some flavor to the build up play

I suppose I will get lambasted by mentioning the improvement in Partey since the return of Xhaka.

Not sure those events align as precisely as you make out. Wasn’t the 4/10 game after xhaka’s return?

Partly gave himself 4/10. Can that be a new feature on here -the player’s vote for themselves? 😉

It is so funny how quickly things can change and then change back again in football. I’ve always been fairly supportive of Arteta without pinning all my hopes of success on his tenure. Arsenal are transmitting a very special feeling right now. I want more of this !

Should keep AMN for midfield numbers, why loan him to Roma for peanuts again? rmb how much they bid for Xhaka?

Massive game for Partey and Xhaka against city. That area of the field has been taken apart by city in the past few meetings. Hopefully not next time out.