Thomas Partey has named five Arsenal legends he idolised growing up – including Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry.
Arsenal signed Partey from Atletico Madrid on transfer deadline day after meeting his £45million release clause.
The 27-year-old Ghanaian international says he has followed Arsenal ‘for a long time’ and loved watching Arsene Wenger’s ‘Invincibles’, who went unbeaten throughout the 2003-04 Premier League season.
‘I feel so great, excited, it is something that makes me feel great, makes me feel important and it is a great feeling to be here,’ Partey said in an interview with Arsenal’s official website.
‘I have followed Arsenal for a long time. When we were young we used to watch so many games, when they had the Invincibles season in 2004, they were so great. That is when they won the hearts of so many people.
‘There were a lot of great players [here at the club] before. Ian Wright was here, Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Pires, Bergkamp was one of the greatest, and that season was great.’
Partey won the Europa League at Atletico Madrid and helped the club reach the Champions League final in 2016.
The Ghana star wants to enjoy more success at Arsenal and take the club ‘back to where we belong’.
He added: ‘I feel so happy, I already feel part of the family because the fans have received me, everybody is saying nice things about me and, you know, to be received like this is a great feeling.
‘I want to make everyone feel happy.’
Arsenal have won three of their four Premier League matches so far this season and face Manchester City this weekend.
