Thomas Partey believes that the battle between Arsenal’s supreme midfield to get into the starting line-up will elevate his team to a level required for winning the Premier League title.
Partey has come back from an injury-ridden season which saw him first suffer with a groin injury, and then a hamstring problem. As a result, he was absent from October to March and only started nine league matches.
But now he is fit and ready to take on Declan Rice and Jorginho for a spot in the middle of the park.
He said: ‘We have a lot of players in that position. Jorgi is playing good, I am playing good. Dec is there, Martin (Odegaard) too.
‘We also have other players who can come in and make a difference. We have to compete against each other and at the end of the day it is the Mister (Arteta) who decides.
Thomas Partey says competition for places in Arsenal’s midfield can only be a good thing
‘With this kind of competition, we can get to the level that we want to be at.’
On his previous injury woes, he said: ‘It’s life! Things happen and sometimes they are things you cannot control.
‘I have to keep going and keep fighting. Every time I fall I have to get up and fight back. That is the mentality I have. I also think that any time I can help the team, that is what I have to do.
Arsenal also have the likes of Martin Odegaard (left), Jorginho and Declan Rice in midfield
‘I am doing my best to be more consistent and stay fit. It is an everyday job. I cannot give up and need to keep going.’
Arsenal have brought with them 12 academy players for their pre-season tour of the US. It is a stark contrast to the single academy player, Amario Cozier-Duberry, they brought over last year.
Four of them started in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw against Bournemouth in Los Angeles. As an older figure, the 31-year-old sees it as his duty to help the youngsters on this tour.
‘We were playing with some young players who are coming up and we needed to help them to deal with the intensity,’ he added.
‘Going forward, we want them to try to learn something from us and do our best to come back to our level of fitness, and I think it will help us for the beginning of the league (season).’
