Former Arsenal chief scout Francis Cagigao says Thomas Partey is a huge signing for the club.

Cagigao left Arsenal this September before Partey arrived – departing as head of global scouting via mutual consent after 24 years.

"He is a player that we pursued for a long time and strongly recommended over the last few years," he says of Arsenal's £45million midfielder who will debut on Saturday against Manchester City.

"I first watched him about six years ago playing for Almeria on loan from Atletico Madrid and he was more box-to-box, attacking even.

"I think we will see him with the shackles off because he did very much play in a constricted midfield unit [at Atletico].

"He could be the final piece of the jigsaw that makes Arsenal challenge for the title."