Partey reveals what sold him on Arsenal move
Arsenal signing Thomas Partey says it was a conversation with Mikel Arteta which convinced him to join the Gunners after he was wooed his new manager's "exciting" plans for the club.
Throughout the summer, Arteta had been keen to recruit a central midfielder for the upcoming campaign, with Arsenal continually linked with both Partey and Houssem Aouar of Lyon.
After the Aouar deal failed to materialise, attention quickly switched to Partey, with the move being confirmed on deadline day.
The London side triggered his £45m release clause but still had to convince Partey to leave Atletico, which they managed after Arteta and director Edu talked to the player.
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"Arteta was very important [for the move]," he said.
"Him and Edu told me about their plans and it was so exciting, so I had to accept it.
"[The manager] has seen me play and knows what I can bring to the team. I think he watched me at Atletico and wants me to bring the same to this team.
"I think I have to be quick [to adapt] and learn everything as fast as I can. I have to do everything I have to do in training and make him see me and that I'm ready to play for him.
"It's a great challenge. I want to experience new challenges. I'm ready to give it my all and help the club get back to where it belongs."
Partey has aspirations of helping Arsenal challenge for the Premier League for the first time in years, but knows there is plenty of work that needs to be done to reach that level again.
"It's something that will be difficult," he said when asked about title aspirations.
"But we will be working towards it. I think we are ready. We have to go all out to try and achieve."
Arsenal have made a solid start to the 2020/21 Premier League season, as although they were defeated 2-0 by Liverpool, they have won their other three matches versus Fulham, West Ham, and Sheffield United.
This weekend, they travel to the Emirates to take on Man City.