'Not the best thing' - William Gallas gives verdict on Arsenal's Thomas Partey stance

Partey has been one of Arsenal's most important midfielders in recent years but looks set to leave the club this summer upon the expiry of his contract. The two parties have been negotiating over an extension but no agreement has been reached.

Mikel Arteta is engineering an overhaul of his midfield options, with talks advancing rapidly over a deal for Brentford's Christian Norgaard while a move for Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi is also expected to be announced imminently.

Asked if letting Partey leave is the best decision, Gallas told Genting Casino: "I don’t know. I think with his quality, he could stay at Arsenal. With what he has offered to the club over the last few years, he can easily stay. And with their depth right now, I think it is best to add, not replace.

"I’m not sure of the reasons why he might leave, but I’m not sure it would be the best thing if he left."

Partey will start negotiating with other clubs to find a new home for the 2025-26 season. Fellow experienced midfielder Jorginho has also left the Emirates Stadium, making his debut for Flamengo during the Club World Cup.