Arsenal's reliance on Thomas Partey shows Mikel Arteta clear summer transfer priority

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta doesn't need statistics or any pundit to tell him that his side should have wrapped up a top-four finish before the final day of the season.

But some unavoidable events, such as injuries to stars like Thomas Partey, have contributed to their plight. And the Spaniard will be eager to put that right in the summer transfer window in order to prevent a similar collapse from occurring next season.

After a mixed debut campaign in the Premier League in 2020-21, Partey has emerged as a key pillar in the Gunners' side in the engine room this season. Asserting himself in a similar manner to how Patrick Vieira used to boss the midfield, the Ghanaian has rarely looked out of place alongside Granit Xhaka — that is when he hasn't been sidelined by injury.

The 28-year-old may be the first to admit his fitness has not been what a team might expect from a £45million signing. Partey has participated in only 24 of Arsenal's 37 league fixtures so far this season. But when he has featured, the data proves how much better the Gunners are with him than without him. They have lost six matches from 26 with him, compared to seven from 13 when he has been left out due to injury.

Losing his composure in midfield, in addition to his experience and leadership, has been a big blow and it is not something that has passed Arteta by. The Arsenal boss spoke about the importance of keeping him fit, also because it means that other players do not have to play out of position to cover him. "The stats are there and they are unquestionable," he said. "The win rate when Thomas is there is higher. It is something that is not good for us because in the last two seasons he has not been there as much as we want.

"We need him to play in