Must be Dropped: Arsenal’s 3/10 Shøckēr Was Just as Bad as Partey vs Atalanta
Arsenal secured a point in their opening Champions League fixture with a goalless draw away from home, while also preserving a clean sheet.
Despite this positive outcome, the match itself was notably uneventful. Mikel Arteta’s squad faced off against Atalanta in what could be considered one of the dullest games of the season so far. A standout moment was David Raya’s impressive double save, which provided a rare highlight in an otherwise lackluster contest.
Much of the game’s monotony can be attributed to Arsenal’s solid defensive performance. In that aspect, they were nearly flawless. However, issues emerged in other areas of the pitch, where several players underperformed. One player, in particular, managed fewer touches than goalkeeper Raya and was as ineffective as Thomas Partey.
Thomas Partey’s Game in Numbers
After starting in the North London Derby on Sunday and delivering what can be described as a merely adequate performance, Partey was again called upon to start last night’s game alongside Declan Rice and Kai Havertz.
Facing the Europa League champions and last season’s Coppa Italia runners-up was no easy challenge.
Despite this tough assignment, the Ghanaian midfielder appeared out of sync and struggled to make a significant impact on the game. When he did manage to contribute, he ended up conceding a penalty, although Raya saved him from further damage.
This may seem like a harsh assessment, but it aligns with the views of GOAL’s Tom Manston, who rated him a mere 5/10. Manston described Partey as “overrun at times” and “clumsy” in his play.
Statistics further support this evaluation of the 31-year-old’s performance. In his 58 minutes on the field, Partey accumulated a combined expected goal and assist figure of just 0.09.
He managed only 39 touches, maintained a passing accuracy of 79%, played no key passes, missed a major scoring opportunity, lost three of five duels, gave away possession eight times, made one tackle, was dribbled past once, and conceded a penalty.
| Partey’ game in numbers | |
|---|---|
| Minutes | 58′ |
| Expected Goals | 0.06 |
| Expected Assists | 0.03 |
| Touches | 39 |
| Passing Accuracy | 27/34 (79%) |
| Key Passes | 0 |
| Big Chances Missed | 1 |
| Lost Possession | 8 |
| Duels (Won) | 5 (2) |
| Tackles | 1 |
| Dribbled Past | 1 |
| Penalties Conceded | 1 |
| Stats Source: Sofascore | |
Overall, Partey had a disappointing performance, and with his substitution in the second half, it’s likely Jorginho could start in his place this weekend. However, one of his teammates was just as underwhelming during the match.
Gabriel Jesus’ Game in Numbers
Unfortunately for the Brazilian forward, Gabriel Jesus was one of the more disappointing players on the pitch last night.
Starting his first game of the season in Bergamo, the ex-Manchester City player was likely looking to make an impression ahead of the upcoming top-of-the-table match. However, the performance he delivered fell short of expectations.
Although chances were limited for the 27-year-old, he didn’t help his cause. His play was marked by awkward touches, and he struggled to create or convert any meaningful opportunities.
As a result, Manston wasn’t impressed, calling the São Paulo-born forward ‘rusty’ and giving him a rating of 3/10. While this may seem severe, his stats from the match justify the criticism.
During his 58 minutes on the field, Jesus failed to record a shot, leaving his expected goals (xG) at zero. His expected assists (xA) were just 0.09. He also failed his only dribble attempt, managed only 32 touches (14 fewer than the goalkeeper, Raya), lost five of seven duels, and was caught offside three times.
| Jesus’ game in numbers | |
|---|---|
| Minutes | 58′ |
| Goals | 0 |
| Assists | 0 |
| Expected Goals | 0.00 |
| Expected Assist | 0.09 |
| Shots | 0 |
| Touches | 32 |
| Dribbles (Successful) | 1 (0) |
| Duels (Won) | 7 (2) |
| Offside | 3 |
| Stats Source: Sofascore | |
In the end, although much of the midfield and forward line delivered lackluster performances last night, Partey and Jesus were especially poor and must be dropped for the Manchester City game on Sunday.
In other Arsenal news, Ian Wright Makes Interesting Claim About Gabriel Martinelli at Arsenal Right Now
