During his introduction as the Black Stars coach on Monday, Chris Hughton defended Thomas Partey's performances for the Ghanaian national team in comparison to his displays for Arsenal, amid criticism that he has not lived up to his potential for his country.
Hughton emphasized that Partey's roles for both club and country are different but equally important, with his position on the national team requiring him to be a continuity player rather than an individual who can dribble past multiple opponents.
"Partey’s roles for both club and country are different from each other but key," said Hughton. "His role in the team is as a continuity player. He is not the type of player to expect to dribble past multiple players. His role is important to what the team does even if he doesn’t always stand out."
Despite not always standing out, Partey's contribution is crucial to the team's success. The coach's comments come ahead of Ghana's important 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Angola on Thursday, where a victory would significantly boost their chances of qualifying for next year's tournament in Ivory Coast.
Partey, who joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid in 2020, has been a key player for the London club this season, contributing to both defensive cover and attacking moves, with the Gunners currently leading the Premier League by eight points.
