Arsenal Update: Mikel Arteta Raves About Return Of 'Better' Thomas Partey Partner

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta may have already found a perfect midfield partner for Thomas Partey.

Since returning from suspension following a red card in December against Burnley, Granit Xhaka has been exceptional and is arguably in his best form this season.

It didn’t take long for Arteta to acknowledge the way his star midfielder managed to bounce back. According to the Gunners boss, Xhaka has been a “much better” player since his return and would make a great attacking partner for Partey sooner rather than later.

“He has been really consistent. I think he is improving game by game,” Arteta said of Xhaka on the club’s official website. “I think his balance with Thomas [Partey] is getting stronger, they haven’t played much together, and that chemistry has to flourish. I think they make each other better and we have a good balance between left and right footed there in those spaces as well.”

“Then there is his leadership level as well, he has matured a lot as a player and he has got a big importance in that dressing room,” he added. “On the pitch, I think he is doing things much, much better than before as well.”

Xhaka has been one of the most active players in Arsenal. Since his move to Emirates Stadium from Bundesliga, he has played a total of 148 Premier League matches, and Arteta has no plans of limiting the 28-year-old’s minutes this season.

“[Xhaka] He is a really important player for us,” the Gunners boss added. “Since I have been here I think he has played almost every game – and there is not a better way to show how much you like and you value a player than to give him minutes on the pitch.”

As for the former Basel star’s issue with temperament, Arteta is convinced that Xhaka has already learned his lessons and would never want to make the same mistakes again.

“He has had two big episodes,” the Spanish manager told Goal of Xhaka’s attitude. “You can maybe overcome one of those, but I think the second time it really shocks you and he said, ‘I don’t want to go through that again’.”

“But this is why we are here, to try to support our players,” he continued. “I think the club was exceptional giving him all the support. We try to do the same, the team-mates did the same, and he has come through again.”