Three midfielders Arsenal should target in January transfer window to replace Thomas Partey

Arsenal continue to be linked with a host of central midfielders ahead of the January transfer window, with Thomas Partey remaining sidelined due to injuey

De Jong and two other midfielders Arsenal should target to replace Partey. (Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Three midfielders Arsenal should target in January transfer window to replace Thomas Partey

Thomas Partey’s time at Arsenal has been dominated by a plethora of injury problems. The Ghana international has shown he can be world-class when fully fit but recently that is something that has rarely occurred.

In fact, the 30-year-old has missed a total of 52 games since joining from Atletico Madrid a little over three years ago. For comparison, fellow Gunners midfielder Declan Rice has missed just seven matches in that period, as per Transfermarkt.

Considering Mikel Arteta’s side are in with a chance of winning this season’s Premier League title, they need players they can rely on. Partey doesn’t seem to be one of them.

football.london understands that the the former Atletico man underwent a procedure which will now rule him out for the remainder of the year. So, we’ve taken a look at three different midfielders that the north London outfit should look at signing to replace Partey.

Martin Zubimeni

Real Sociedad’s main man Martin Zubimendi has been heavily linked with a move to north London in the past and football.london understands that one of the Gunners are still tracking the Spanish international ahead of the January window. Zubimendi has been of interest for a while now and has a €60million (£52million) release clause in his contract, a fee that would represent a bit of a bargain given the current state of inflated transfer fees, especially regarding to midfielders.

Arsenal number six Jorginho is now into the last year of his contract at the Emirates, as is Mohammed Elnney. That will mean that the Gunners need to recruit centrally and Zubimendi makes a lot of sense as a Jorginho replacement.

Like the Italian, he loves to get on the ball centrally in an attempt to control the game, capable of slowing things down or speeding the flow up depending on the game state. He also reads the game to an elite standard, constantly scanning the pitch for potential solutions in and out of possession.

The 24-year-old can be deployed as a number six or a number eight, offering exactly the kind of tactical versatility that Arteta loves in a player.

Frenkie de Jong

It may seem a tad unrealistic but Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong makes sense for Arsenal as the perfect controller option if a move could be pulled off. The Gunners already have the ideal holding midfielder in the form of Declan Rice.

Similarly, club captain Martin Odegaard makes sense as the perfect advanced midfielder that is capable of creating chances, as well as finishing them. But Mikel Arteta’s side have been missing a controller ever since Granit Xhaka left for Bayer Leverkusen during the summer transfer window.

De Jong is exactly that kind of profile, offering the perfect blend between vertical progressive passing and tactical intelligence. The Dutch international loves to dictate games, making him a perfect partner for Rice, who is always keen to get on the ball and quickly recycle possession.

The Dutchman has even revealed his admiration for Arsenal in the past, admitting that he envisioned a similar career path to compatriot Marc Overmars. “In my mind, I have had the following list for a long time: Ajax-Arsenal-Barcelona, call it the Marc Overmars route,” he told Voetbal International back in 2019.

“I actually thought Arsenal was pretty beautiful in the past. But yes, if you can go directly to Barcelona, then you are right where you want to be.”

Cheick Doucoure

Perhaps less of a flashy name but Crystal Palace starlet ticks a lot of boxes when it comes to finding an adequate Partey replacement in the transfer market. Like the Arsenal midfielder, Doucoure offers a unique combination of elite physical attributes with an intelligent reading of the game, particularly on the defensive end.

The Mali international is perhaps more of a destroyer type of profile, so there may be a slight weakness in terms of creativity if he was playing alongside the aforementioned Rice. However, Doucoure’s ability on the ball is by no means a weakness.

The 23-year-old is an elite ball carrier, often looking to stride forward with the ball at his feet. His willingness to receive on the half turn makes him a top-quality number six as well.

The Eagles youngster’s ability to turn with the ball quickly in tight spaces makes him incredibly press-resistant, similar to Partey in that aspect. However, his price tag could be an issue, with the Evening Standard reporting that Palace value him at £70million.