Leave this job for Thomas - Nigerian icon praises Ghanaian star Partey after Real Madrid show

Ghanaian defensive midfielder Thomas Partey has received high praise for his standout performance against Real Madrid, following Arsenal’s memorable win in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg.

The Gunners delivered a historic night, dismantling a 10-man Real Madrid side, with Partey’s commanding presence in midfield earning him accolades from across the continent.

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Nigerian beach football legend Abu Azeez was among those captivated by Partey’s display, hailing the 31-year-old Ghanaian star after watching Arsenal outclass Carlo Ancelotti’s Los Blancos.

Partey, who played the full 90 minutes, was instrumental in Arsenal’s dominance, showing his technical brilliance and tenacity.

His stats from the match tell the story: a 91% pass completion rate, 100% shot accuracy, 76 touches, 100% long-ball accuracy, six recoveries, and four duels won.

Azeez, clearly impressed, took to X to shower praise on the Arsenal midfielder.

“This season, I have watched Arsenal vs Man City, Arsenal vs PSG and Arsenal vs Real Madrid,” he said.

“Leave this midfield job for Thomas Partey,” he wrote, signaling his admiration for Partey’s consistency and mastery in high-stakes encounters.

Partey’s performance not only underlined his importance to Arsenal’s Champions League campaign but also cemented his status as one of Africa’s finest footballing talents, earning him well-deserved recognition from a fellow African icon.

Meanwhile, France international Kylian Mbappe has reacted to Real Madrid's shocking capitulation against Arsenka, stating that he believes Los Blancos will stage a comeback.

The echoes of Arsenal’s stunning 3-0 rout of Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League were still ringing through the Emirates when Kylian Mbappe, the French superstar at the heart of Los Blancos’ attack, issued a bold promise.

Bruised but unbowed, Mbappe seems to believe that his team’s shocking capitulation was merely a stumble, not a fall, and vowed a comeback for the ages.

Read more of what Mbappe said of Real’s chances on the second leg here as reported by Pulse Sports Nigeria.