Thomas Partey has told Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta he is ready to fight for his place and prove he is one of the world’s best midfielders.
The Ghana international missed a huge chunk of last season with a hamstring issue which prevented Arteta from pairing him alongside Declan Rice on a regular basis.
Now entering the final year of his contract, the former Atletico Madrid star has no interest in leaving the club and wants some Arsenal silverware having turned 31 last month.
Arteta’s men lost the title by only two points last season and Partey admitted: “It hurt a lot. Now we have to avoid the mistakes of last season.”
New contract or not, he is determined to show Arteta and Arsenal fans he can stay fit and make a difference in the title race.
He added: “We have a lot of players in the middle. We have a lot of players in that position. Jorginho is playing good, I am playing good. Dec (Rice) is there, Martin (Odegaard) too.
“We also have other players who can come in and make a difference. We have to compete against each other and at the end of the day it is the Mister (Arteta) who decides.
“With this kind of competition, we can get to the level that we want to be at.
“At the end of the day It doesn’t matter who plays. I think the most important thing is the team achieves their objective.
“I am doing my best to be more consistent and stay fit. It is an everyday job. I cannot give up and need to keep going.
“It’s life! Things happen and sometimes they are things you cannot control. I have to keep going and keep fighting.
“Every time I fall I have to get up and fight back. That is the mentality I have. I also think that any time I can help the team that is what I have to do.”
Partey started Arsenal’s first pre-season match of their USA tour against Bournemouth on Wednesday night. A Fabio Vieira goal secured a 1-1 draw before the Gunners won 5-4 on penalties.
They next face Manchester United in Los Angeles on Saturday night before flying to Philadelphia for a sold out showdown with Liverpool.
FEATURED IMAGE: RINGO CHIU / AFP VIA ONE FOOTBALL
