Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has heaped praise on teammate Thomas Partey, describing the Ghanaian international as an underrated and calming presence in the squad.
Rice’s comments come in the build-up to Arsenal’s decisive UEFA Champions League semifinal second-leg against Paris Saint-Germain, set for Wednesday, May 7, in France.
Partey missed the first leg due to suspension, and his absence was felt as Arsenal struggled in the early stages of the match. PSG capitalized with a fourth-minute goal from Ousmane Dembélé, handing the French side a narrow 1-0 advantage heading into the return fixture.
Reflecting on his midfield partnership with Ghana’s deputy captain, Rice emphasized Partey’s importance to the team.
“The best thing about playing with Thomas is the calmness he brings to the team,” Rice said. “Before I came to Arsenal, there was already so much talk about how good he is. He doesn’t always get the recognition he deserves. I’m quite lucky Thomas is there—he lets me roam up and down.”
Partey, 31, joined Arsenal from Atlético Madrid in 2020 and has remained a key figure when fit. With his contract set to expire in a few months, negotiations over a possible extension are reportedly ongoing.
His return for the second leg is expected to be a major boost for Mikel Arteta’s side as they aim to overturn the deficit and reach their first Champions League final since 2006.
