Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has praised Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey, labelling him as one of the top midfielders in the Premier League.
Martinez’s admiration for Partey was evident after the Arsenal player scored a crucial goal in their match against Villa on Saturday, August 24, 2024.
Reflecting on the goal he allowed, Martinez admitted that he didn’t react with full force because he didn’t immediately recognize that it was Partey who took the shot.
The Argentine keeper acknowledged the power and precision of Partey’s strike, further cementing his respect for the Arsenal star’s abilities on the pitch.
“I tried my best to save it. I didn’t know it was a shot from Partey until I raised my head after the ball went in. He’s one of the best midfielders in the league,” the 2022 World Cup winner said.
Thomas Partey sealed the win with a brilliant strike from outside the box, placing the ball perfectly into the bottom right corner in a 2-0 victory. Although Martinez got a hand to it, he couldn’t prevent the goal.
This marked Partey’s first goal of the season as Arsenal secured their second win of the new campaign.