BREAKING NEWS: Everyone is now seeing me as a bad person, Nobody even wants to hear my own side of the Story, I\u2019m not supposed to say this but I will say it to clear the air now\u201d, Mikel Arteta finally REVEALED what really happened between Him and Thomas Partey in the dressing room that lead to His sudden DEPARTURE<\/p>\n
Arsenal will lose Thomas Partey and sign Christian Norgaard as his replacement<\/p>\n
Arsenal have been told they could live to regret the loss of Thomas Partey on a free transfer this summer after Fabrizio Romano confirmed his departure at the end of his contract, while it has emerged that Mikel Arteta rejected an alternative to sign Brentford\u2019s Christian Norgaard as his replacement.<\/p>\n
The Gunners had been hoping to tie the Ghanaian midfielder \u2013 a \u00a345m (\u20ac50m, $61m) signing from Atletico Madrid in 2020 \u2013 down to a new contract, with his current arrangement expiring at the end of the season. And with the midfielder showing improved form for Arsenal over the closing months of the season, the drive to tie him down to an extension was being driven by Arteta himself.<\/p>\n
However, after weeks of talks and a series of failed offers, it was finally confirmed on Wednesday that Partey would be leaving Emirates Stadium at the end of the month.<\/p>\n
Writing on X, Fabrizio Romano confirmed: \u2018Thomas Partey, set to leave Arsenal as free agent at the end of the month \u2013 story from last week confirmed. Arsenal have already activated options to replace Thomas with Norgaard talks ongoing with Brentford.\u2019<\/p>\n
Ultimately, the Gunners did not offer the 32-year-old big enough terms to convince him to hang around and sources understand the player is now expected to negotiate a lucrative free transfer move to Saudi Arabia, with a salary proposal poised to blow Arsenal\u2019s offer out of the water.<\/p>\n
News of the Ghanaian\u2019s imminent exit, however, has not gone down well with a vast portion of Arsenal supporters, while former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness fears his departure could be one the Gunners \u2018live to regret\u2019, having blamed player power for the failure to agree a new deal.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s been a talent. I like watching Thomas Partey play. He\u2019s my type of player in terms of getting stuck in,\u201d Wyness said on the Inside Track podcast.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt would be a loss, but that\u2019s the name of the game now. We\u2019ve seen it with player power in a number of issues. We\u2019ve seen it at Liverpool, with Trent [Alexander-Arnold].<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve seen it in other areas. I\u2019m afraid it\u2019s to be expected. Arsenal want another year out of him, I think Arteta would like him. He\u2019d like that experience to stay in there, but I don\u2019t think it\u2019s going to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Arsenal transfers: Why Arteta wanted Norgaard ahead of Sevilla man
\nSpeaking before confirmation of Partey\u2019s exit came to light, Wyness added: \u201cI do expect Partey to go and Arsenal have just got to accept that, it\u2019s just the modern game right now, the way it\u2019s panned out.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think they did try and keep him for a longer-term contract before, but his agent and himself have decided it\u2019s time for a move and another contract somewhere else. He\u2019s a talent, and he\u2019ll do well wherever he goes.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Partey\u2019s place in the side was likely to be taken by Martin Zubimendi anyway, the Gunners \u2013 like all the top sides \u2013 do still need strength in depth.<\/p>\n
And ahead of Partey\u2019s departure, Arsenal have wasted no time in agreeing a deal to bring Norgaard to Emirates Stadium from Brentford, with the Gunners agreeing a \u00a310m deal, rising to \u00a315m with bonuses and add-ons for the 31-year-old.<\/p>\n
We revealed last week that Arsenal were also looking at Sevilla\u2019s Lucien Agoume as a replacement, but ultimately went for Norgaard at the insistence of Arteta, according to BBC Sport.<\/p>\n
And they report that the Arsenal manager wanted a player who was \u2018Premier League ready\u2019 to fill the void created by the exits of Jorginho and Partey, rather than gamble on the potential of a 23-year-old.<\/p>\n
Arsenal have also been told what they can expect from the 35-times capped Denmark international by his former manager Thomas Frank, who was quick to praise his countryman upon signing a new deal with the Bees earlier this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis new contract was a no-brainer for us and Christian,\u201d said Frank at the time.<\/p>\n
\u201cChristian has been an integral part of the fantastic journey we have been on these past six years. He is our club captain and one of our most important players.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis ability to sense danger and make interceptions is at an extraordinarily high level, as is his ability to play forward on the first or second touch.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd he has picked up his goal threat this season! The first time I coached Christian, he was a No.10; now he is one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League. I\u2019m very happy.<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully, we can continue to be successful together with Christian leading the team.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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