Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has admitted to Football London that he has been very surprised by Thomas Partey and Gabriel.
Partey and Gabriel both joined Arsenal this summer, but they have quickly become key players for the Gunners.
The pair both stood out yesterday, as Arsenal picked up a 1-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Partey marshalled midfield absolutely brilliantly, while Gabriel was rock solid at the back.
And Arteta says that they are both performing well ahead of his expectations.
“No, because I know how tough this league is and you cannot compare it to any league in the world,” the Arsenal boss said, when he was asked if he expected his new signings to be performing so well in such quick time.
“We tried to bring certain characteristics in the profile of player want for our club. We want to minimise the risk by looking and making sure they’re going to contribute to what we want to do as a team.”
Arsenal had to fight hard to sign both Partey and Gabriel this summer, but their decision to do so looks like a masterstroke now.
Partey’s ability in possession combined with his defensive attributes make him the exact player that Arsenal seem to have been lacking for some time.
Gabriel, meanwhile, looks perfectly suited to Premier League football – and he may well already have established himself as Arsenal’s most important central defender.
The Gunners’ win yesterday has launched them up to ninth in the Premier League table.
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