Edu has revealed that Thomas Partey was on Arsenal’s transfer wishlist seven months ago when he first put together his plans with Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal secured the signing of Partey on deadline day when they activated the £45million release clause in his Atletico Madrid contract.
The Gunners had to move swiftly to get Partey into the club before the 11pm deadline. An outline of personal terms had already been settled but aside from agreeing his contract Arsenal also had to conduct his medical and make arrangements to deposit the £45million lump sum in one go at La Liga headquarters.
Though the deal was only struck in the dying minutes of a window where Atletico had refused to enter into dialogue, Arsenal’s pursuit of Partey was long-standing. Indeed even before Edu arrived the Ghanaian midfielder was a top target and he remained such when the technical director and Arteta formulated their plans for the summer window.
![[FILE] Liverpool’s Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah (L) runs with the ball as Arsenal’s Brazilian defender Gabriel closes in during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium in London. (Photo by Catherine Ivill / POOL / AFP)](https://www.afriupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/000_97B779-scaled-e1703231851386-120x86.jpg "Liverpool host Arsenal in battle for Premier League Christmas No. 1 2")
“One day I’d like to show the fans how we work,” Edu said. “If you see my plan of six or seven months ago with Mikel, Thomas was there already.
“You see how many months we had to try to find the right player for the club. So many things to do, so many meetings.
“You have to see how you’re going to buy the player, if you have the financial situation to buy the player, the legal process, the financial process, talk to the player, talk to the agent.
“There are a lot of things around this but in the end we did it.”
Asked if he was always confident that Arsenal would get their man, Edu added: “When we received the green light from the board and the owners, yes.
“Of course it’s an important player, to be fair it’s a very huge investment for this moment we’re in now. We need the green light from them.
“When I showed my plan to them it was so exciting, they understood the plan and pressed the button; then I felt very, very confident. As I mentioned it’s not easy to invest a lot of money in this period of time.”
Partey was the most high profile addition at Arsenal this summer with three other permanent signings made. Reserve goalkeeper Alex Runarrson arrived from Dijon for £1million, Willian signed a three year contract after being released by Chelsea whilst £25million to Lille secured the services of Gabriel Magalhaes.
Arsenal also brought back Dani Ceballos for another season on loan from Real Madrid.
“We improved in the squad quality and physicality,” Edu told club media.
“Willian brings us a lot of experience and a very special physicality in terms of his speed. If you see Gabriel, he gives us a lot of physicality and presence. Dani: quality. Thomas: physicality, quality and mentally he’s very strong.
“If you see all these players that we bring to the club they are very good here [taps legs] but they are better here [taps head].
“This for me is very important. When you talk to the players they have a lot of ambition, they are exciting and they are hungry to win a title again.”
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