Former Premier League Striker: Arsenal Have Finally Replaced Vieira With Thomas Partey

Darren Bent believes Arsenal have found the missing link in Thomas Partey…

Former Premier League striker Darren Bent believes Arsenal have finally found a replacement for Patrick Vieira after the deadline day signing of Thomas Partey, he told Sky Sports.

Arsenal pulled off a coup on the final day of the window by activating Partey’s release clause and wrapping up the £45million-deal in less than 12 hours.

The Ghanaian international has been heavily linked with us for almost two years with the scouting department at the club listing him as one of our prime targets.

Failure to qualify for the Champions League yet again was a damaging blow and with the world currently experiencing a financial crisis, funding a deal for Partey seemed like a pipe dream.

However, due to some fundraising sales including the transfer fee received from Emi Martinez’s move to Aston Villa as well as Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzo’s respective loan fees, we found a way.

“Finally they have got someone in there who has that Vieira type stature in the middle of the park,” Bent told Sky Sports.

“When you look at the players are costing more than that, and haven’t got half of what he’s got. It’s bizarre.

“But the fact that Arsenal have got him, what a signing,” the former Charlton man added.

Partey allows Mikel Arteta to be flexible with his team selections which could perhaps see us return to a back-four, a system Arteta initially started using.

The 27-year-old is able to anchor the midfield alone or with a partner, ticking all the boxes you’d want from a midfielder.

We’d usually urge for caution when a new player comes to the Premier League, but it’s currently inconceivable to think that Partey will be anything other than a huge hit in England.