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Coming to the Partey
After a slow start, Thomas Partey has now established himself as a pivotal figure at Arsenal according to team-mate Granit Xhaka.
Ghanaian international Partey, 28, nodded in the Gunners’ opener in yesterday’s 2-0 win over Leicester, moving them back into fourth place in the Premier League.
The goal topped off a week where Partey was named the club’s player of the month for February, winning the award for the first time in his Emirates spell.
And it is a choice that Swiss star Xhaka, 29, feels was fully merited.
Xhaka said: “He [Partey] criticised himself very hard I think [earlier in the season], but he’s fit, he’s healthy, he’s so important for us.
“You can see his qualities without the ball, with the ball and everything starts from him and not only on the pitch, but off the pitch as well.
“He’s a lovely guy, a guy who helps the young people a lot and I’m enjoying being a part of the midfield with him.”
Mikel Arteta’s Gunners host Liverpool on Wednesday evening having won their last five top-flight outings.
City stars get a Pep talk
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has urged his players to focus solely on elements within their control ahead of tonight’s trip to Crystal Palace.
City’s title rivals Liverpool won 2-0 at Brighton on Saturday to move back within three points of top spot and keep the pressure firmly on the reigning champions.
Yet while Guardiola, 51, admits to keeping an eye on the Merseysiders’ scores, he is only bothered by what happens at Selhurst Park this evening.
He said: “We have to win our games. I’d love to be involved in the games of our contenders too, but I can’t be involved.
“Just one time when Liverpool will take a bus and come here to play the game [on April 10]. The rest we can do nothing.
“All we can do is win our game at Crystal Palace, but of course we have our eye on what they do, it’s normal.”
Patrick Vieira’s Eagles inflicted a shock 2-0 defeat on City at the Etihad last October, making them one of only two sides to beat the leaders this term along with Tottenham.
Sancho’s rapid rise
Ralf Rangnick believes Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho is starting to show signs of his true ability at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils interim boss, 63, says Sancho — a £73million summer arrival from Borussia Dortmund — has taken time to adjust to the physicality of the Premier League.
However, after putting in another impressive performance in United’s 3-2 defeat of Tottenham on Saturday, the German suggested that transition period is close to ending.
Rangnick said: “At the end, they are all human beings. The mere fact he [Sancho] cost a lot of money does not mean that he is playing at that level to start with.
“He told me that of course it was a problem for him to get adjusted to the intensity of the league, to the physicality of the league.
“In the end it’s all about confidence. When I came here it was clear we had to try everything to help him to get the best version of himself.
“Now he has managed to do that. I’m happy to see him play at that kind of level right now.”
