Thomas Partey Gets High UCL Rating After Helping Arsenal Dominate Real Madrid

• Thomas Partey shone in midfield for the second time during Arsenal and Real Madrid's UCL quarter-final second leg
• The former Atletico Madrid midfielder put up a decent performance to claim only his fourth victory against Los Blancos
• Partey's Arsenal would be confident ahead of their 2024/25 Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain

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On a special night for Arsenal, Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey shone in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid as his team reached the semi-finals.

After upsetting the Spanish giants 3-0 in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium on April 8, the Gunners were commanding in the 2-1 win in the second leg at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu on April 16.

Despite Real Madrid's Champions League pedigree, the ex-Atletico Madrid player dictated the tempo, halted the home team's build-up play, and helped Arsenal control the possession.

His ability to shield the backline and launch counter-attacks was crucial in keeping Real Madrid’s midfield trio of Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde, and Aurelien Tchouameni quiet.

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Partey's calmness under pressure and intelligent distribution allowed Arsenal to control the match and exploit Real Madrid’s defensive frailties as Declan Rice made an impact, per BBC.

Partey rises in UCL QF second leg

The return leg in Madrid was expected to be a stern test for Mikel Arteta’s side, with Real Madrid known for their dramatic comebacks in European competitions.

However, Partey once again rose to the occasion, putting in a disciplined and composed performance in the middle of the park to aid his team's 2-1 triumph.

Partey’s positioning and tactical awareness helped Arsenal start the game strongly, with Bukayo Saka missing a 13th-minute penalty before making amends in the 65th minute.

Real Madrid equalised in the 67th minute through Vinícius Júnior but Gabriel Martinelli netted the winner in stoppage time to seal a 5-1 aggregate win and see the Gunners through.

Thomas Partey’s return boosts Arsenal

Thomas Partey has struggled with injuries over the past year, but his return to full fitness could not have come at a better time for Arsenal.

Arteta's midfield trio of Partey, Rice, and Martin Odegaard have helped strike a balance between defensive stability and attacking fluidity.

The Ghanaian's experience and performances have reignited hopes among Arsenal fans that this could be the year for their maiden UCL trophy.

Flashscore.com rated Partey 7/10, with the Ghanaian finishing the game as the midfielder with the second-highest grade after Rice (7.1/10).

Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain meet in the semi-finals, with Partey set to miss the first leg after a yellow card, per the Premier League website.

He would be expected to make up for a cynical foul in the second leg and the Gunners would be hoping that they can claim the advantage in the first leg with another victory at home.

For Ghanaian football fans, Partey's success on the European stage is a source of pride and no matter Arsenal's result, his performances have showcased Africa's true value in the sport.

Thomas Partey's performance statistics in UCL

Over the course of the Champions League campaign, Thomas Partey has maintained a passing accuracy of 91.28% and covered an average distance of 5.92 km per match.

His ability to disrupt Real Madrid's build-up play and shield the defense was instrumental in neutralizing threats from players like Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé.

Arsenal's 2-1 win against Real Madrid not only eliminated the reigning champions but also highlighted the team's growth under Mikel Arteta's leadership.

Carlo Ancelotti backs Arsenal for UCL success

YEN.com.gh earlier reported that Mikel Arteta had disclosed that Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti had named the Gunners his ideal team to claim the 2024/2025 Champions League.

The Spanish tactician said that after his team's 2-1 win in the quarter-final second leg, the Italian manager told him he wished Arsenal won the European laurel and felt it would be deserved.

Nomso Obiajuru was a contributing writer in this article

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Source: YEN.com.gh