Pundit Matthew Upson has told BBC Sport (20:44) that Arsenal new boy Thomas Partey hasn’t put to the test against Leicester City.
The Gunners were back in Premier League action on Sunday night, having picked up a narrow win over Rapid Vienna in the Europa League on Thursday night.
Mikel Arteta’s side were frustrating throughout, and couldn’t find the goal they were looking for before Jamie Vardy won the game for Leicester.
It’s a second 1-0 defeat in a row in the Premier League for Arsenal, who seem to be lacking some creativity in midfield whilst Mesut Ozil’s exile continues.
New signing Partey made his first Premier League start for Arsenal since arriving from Atletico Madrid, though it didn’t quite go to plan for the Ghanaian.
Now, pundit Upson – formerly of Arsenal – has suggested that it’s hard to judge him based on last night’s game because there wasn’t much action in his area of the pitch.
Upson did note that Partey shifted position well and showed his tactical understanding, but he believes Sunday’s game wasn’t really a test for the 27-year-old, with bigger challenges to come in England.
“It’s hard to judge Thomas Partey off this,” said Upson. “In his area of the pitch there hasn’t been a lot happen. No real counter-attacking or having to defend passages of play or being camped on the edge of the box. Its been tactical and shifting position for Partey which he has done well but he hasn’t been put to the test yet. And it’s a shame we haven’t seen that from Leicester to be challenging him,” he added.
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