Mikel Arteta singles out Arsenal star after 'one of his best performances'

Arsenal thrashed Sporting Lisbon 5-1 connected Tuesday to boost their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League knockout phase, with Thomas Partey among their champion performers

Mikel Arteta hailed Thomas Partey for producing "one of his champion performances" successful an Arsenal garment during the Gunners' rampant 5-1 win distant to Sporting Lisbon.

Partey, who joined Arsenal for £45million successful 2020 from Atletico Madrid, played the full lucifer arsenic Arteta's men handed Sporting their archetypal decision successful 20 games this season. Although it was mostly the Gunners' attackers and defenders who were involved successful the goals, Partey's beingness successful midfield gave his team-mates the level to tally riot.

His show successful the Champions League clash came disconnected the backmost of a goalscoring quality against Nottingham Forest connected Saturday, having travel connected astatine half-time during Arsenal's 3-0 victory. After pursuing that up with a ascendant show successful Lisbon, Arteta labelled the 31-year-old a 'massive player' post-match.

"I deliberation it's 1 of the champion performances I person seen from him," the Gunners brag declared. "Especially the mode he's dominated the game, truthful that's the level helium tin play, he's progressing. This twelvemonth he's been truthful accordant arsenic good due to the fact that helium ever has a role, that's a large thing, he's a monolithic subordinate for us."

Partey's power was felt from the off, with Arsenal racing into a 2-0 pb wrong the opening 20 minutes done Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz. Gabriel Magalhaes past made it 3 with a header connected the brink of half-time. Sporting responded aft the interruption done Goncalo Inacio but the crippled was taken retired of their scope by goals from Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard.

Having struggled distant from location successful the Champions League nether Arteta, astir precocious losing to Inter Milan astatine the commencement of the month, Arsenal were keen for his broadside to marque a 'statement' against the Portuguese champions. "For sure, the show was determination a fewer times and erstwhile we person played large teams," the Spaniard added.

"When we person played PSG, we were exceptional, again, erstwhile we played Bayern [Munich past season] we were exceptional and immoderate mistakes outgo us."

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"Now it's Inter, present it's this level. that's the level we person to beryllium capable to header and you person to marque it happen, past that creates belief, past connected the adjacent 1 the players volition beryllium amended prepared. We request that consistency due to the fact that the quality to bash it is there."

The Gunners instrumentality to Premier League enactment connected Saturday with a travel to West Ham. As Liverpool don't play until Sunday, Arsenal person the accidental to determination wrong six points of the league leaders and support their rubric hopes alive.

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