Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has responded to recent transfer speculation linking him with moves to Spain, Italy, and Saudi Arabia, declaring his commitment to the North London club. The Ghanaian international, who made his first start for Arsenal since August in yesterday's 2-0 win over Luton Town, expressed his happiness at the Emirates Stadium and his desire to continue playing for the Gunners.
Speaking to football.london after the game, Partey said, "My head is always here. This is where I choose to play, I'm really happy every time I'm on the field. I know a lot of speculations have been going on, but for me, I'm really happy to be here and to continue playing for this club."
The 30-year-old's future has been the subject of much speculation, with persistent injury problems and the arrival of Declan Rice in the summer raising questions about his role in the team. Rice has made the midfield his own this season, while the form of Jorginho has also propelled him ahead of Partey, especially in high-stakes matches.
Despite the competition, Partey remains confident in his abilities and his future at Arsenal. When asked about his contract, which has one year remaining at the end of the season, he said, "Well, I still have to the end of the season, I think. I have to do my best and try to perform at the highest level and I think the most important is to be available every time."
Manager Mikel Arteta now faces a crucial decision regarding Partey's future, with links to players such as Martin Zubimendi, Douglas Luiz, and Joshua Kimmich fueling rumors of a potential midfield signing in the summer. However, Partey's desire to stay and fight for his place in the team could influence Arteta's plans.
In yesterday's win over Luton, Arsenal managed to secure three points without much trouble, despite not putting on the most enthralling performance. Key players such as Bukayo Saka, Jakub Kiwior, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, and Jorginho were able to rest on the bench, with some coming on late in the game. This rotation will be crucial as Arsenal face tough Champions League fixtures against Bayern Munich and tricky Premier League games against Brighton and Aston Villa in the coming weeks.
Partey's return to fitness and his determination to contribute to the team's success could prove valuable in the title run-in. "It's good to be back," he said. "I feel really good, it's been a while. I've been trying to work a lot on my fitness and I've been through a lot of work. I've done all I can and I'm really happy to be back and I feel really good. I think I've improved a lot on my fitness, and I'm trying my best to keep on going at this level and keep giving my best."
The midfielder also praised the team's hard work and improvement, saying, "I think everybody is working hard, we have a lot of great players Jorgi's (Jorginho) there, Dec is there and I think Mo (Elneny) as well and we have a lot of players in that position and I think it's good to have everybody ready this time of the season and from the beginning when I tried everything I can to be available."
