Arsenal blew Crystal Palace out of the water at Selhurst Park on Saturday, strolling to a 5-1 win to return to winning ways in the Premier League following disappointing draws against Fulham and Everton.
The Gunners continued from where they left off against the Eagles during the week in the Carabao Cup, BBC pundit Troy Deeney has admitted that he was impressed with the performance of Thomas Partey.
The Ghana international started as the holding midfielder in the absence of Declan Rice from the starting XI, and he put in a solid display as Arsenal secured a comfortable victory against the hosts.
“He is becoming Arsenal’s Mr Reliable,” Deeney said in his weekly Team of the Week column.
“Put him at centre-half, it doesn’t matter, put him a right-back and it doesn’t matter, holding midfielder and it doesn’t matter.
“He just plays where the team need him, goes about his business relatively quietly and he helped Arsenal get a huge win against Palace.”
Partey has proven his quality all over again this season for the Gunners, and he has successfully re-established as a key player for the North London club having been linked with an exit in the summer.
He is out of contract at the end of the season and there has reportedly been no significant progress made on a new deal.
As it stands, the 31-year-old could leave Arsenal at the end of the season as the club are in the market to sign a new central midfielder and have begun identifying targets.
However, letting him walk away would be a huge mistake and the Gunners need to reward him with an improved and extended deal before the end of the campaign.
Manager Mikel Arteta has been able to rely on Partey so far this term amid the frequent injuries which have beleaguered his squad, with the former Atletico Madrid star also featuring in defence.
He can sign a pre-contract with overseas clubs from January 1, but Arsenal need to hold on to him for much longer, and both parties may need to reach a compromise for an agreement to be struck.