Arsenal got exactly what they wanted on deadline day, as they lured Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey to North London in a big-money move.
The Gunners have been chasing Partey for months now, and finally came to an agreement in the final hours of the international summer transfer window.
Heading the other way was Lucas Torreira, as Arsenal allowed him to head out on loan and join Atletico, seemingly filling the gap left by Partey’s absence – even if Diego Simeone wanted to play them together.
Torreira looked to be a superb signing when Arsenal landed him from Sampdoria in the summer of 2018, having turned in consistently excellent displays in Italy.
Even at the 2018 World Cup, Torreira showed what a relentless, battling midfielder he can be, and that’s exactly what Arsenal were looking for under Unai Emery.
However, Torreira failed to really nail down a starting role at Arsenal, and he has now moved on after 89 first-team appearances for the Gunners.
Torreira, 24, is a clearly talented player, but just didn’t fit with what Mikel Arteta wanted to build at Arsenal, and he has taken to Twitter to send a message to the fans he is leaving behind.
The Uruguayan admitted that it was an ‘absolute privilege’ to play for Arsenal, suggesting that they will ‘catch up soon’ – seemingly suggesting that he still sees his future at the Emirates Stadium – and added that Arsenal are ‘forever’ in his heart.
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