Thomas Partey has told Arsenal they have to win their last four Premier League games - starting with Tottenham on Sunday - to take the Premier League title.
The Ghanaian midfielder has also staked a powerful claim to stay in the beating heart of the side after his role in the destruction of Chelsea ’s mega-money midfield
Mikel Arteta ’s team opened a three-point lead over Liverpool at the top of the table with the 5-0 statement thrashing of Chelsea. The destiny of the title is still in Manchester City’s hands with the defending champions, who are four points back with two games in hand, travelling to Brighton on Thursday.
But Arsenal have put the pressure on their title rivals for the run-in. Arteta claimed last month that his side would need over 90 points to win their first title in 20 years. Four more wins would take them to 89 - the same total of champions City last season.
And Partey claimed: “Everything depends on us. We have to continue winning our games, we have a few more games left and we have to win them all.”
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Early season leaders Tottenham will play a big role in the destiny of the title as they play all three contenders before the end of the season. “We know it is going to be a very difficult game,” Partey added. “We know what to do. I think we have to test them.”
Partey’s physicality would be useful at the Tottenham Stadium. For the first time since the Community Shield, he combined with Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard in midfield. He made most interceptions (three) and won two tackles and allowed Rice to push further forward and set up the opening goal. Chelsea’s two £100m midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo were just not on the same level as Arsenal kept a 16th clean sheet. “We did everything possible to beat them in every situation of the game,” Partey added.
It was the £45m signing’s fifth start of his injury-hit season, three of them at full-back. And Arteta now has a nice selection dilemma for Sunday. "We thought it was a really good game for Thomas to come back,” said Arteta. “He stepped up and had a great performance and was really important for the team.
Thomas Partey made on his fifth Premier League start of the season in the destruction of Chelsea (Getty Images)"What did I like most about that midfield trio? Everything, but as well when they play Declan, Kai, and Martin or play with Emile as well or Jorginho for sure, he has played some big games and we’ve won some big, big games with him as well. It depends on the game, the opponent as well, it’s great because everybody feels important as well, that’s something really, really important now.”
Arsenal’s season was in danger of imploding after defeats by Aston Villa and Bayern Munich but they have responded with seven goals in wins over Wolves and Chelsea
“You have to react and face the moment, and the moment is beautiful, we’ve been working for it for nine months,” said Arteta. “So you certainly have to face it in the right way, value what we have and especially believe. If you are able to do it for nine months, you are able to win it, but you have to believe it first and you have to consistently do what you’ve been doing, nothing else.”
A terrible night for Chelsea was made worse by a double from Kai Havertz, the German who scored their winner in the 2021 Champions League final “Kai was amazing,” said White. “He deserves it. He has been outstanding since he came in. You don’t realise how good he is until you play with him."
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