Yaya Toure has heaped praise on Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey ahead of the Gunners' Europa League last-16 first-leg trip to Sporting CP on Thursday evening.
Partey, 29, has been a key cog in the wheel for Mikel Arteta's side this season as they chase their first Premier League title since 2004. Although Partey hasn't featured as regularly in Europe, he could start their game in Portugal given the Gunners are entering the latter stages of the tournament.
In total, the Ghana international has played 26 matches in all competitions and returned to the squad for the win over Leicester last month after recovering from a hamstring injury. He has since replaced Jorginho in the XI for the victories against Everton and Bournemouth and remains a firm fixture in Arteta's best XI.
Ex-Manchester City ace Toure hailed Partey in a recent interview with talkSPORT. He said: "Yeah he's brilliant, it's really nice to see. I think now every weekend when Arsenal have to play, I have to be honest, I would go just to watch him. He's just unbelievable."
Arsenal currently sit five points ahead of Toure's former club City at the top of the table and are starting to build some momentum, having won their last four matches in a row. Although Toure is a massive fan of Partey's, he is still routing for City to win the league.
Toure, who is also a youth team coach at Tottenham, continued: "At the moment, it is really tight. Man City are just playing really well and are hoping Arsenal will drop points.
"I think Arsenal will drop points. It is a long way still, the pressure is there. Man United are still doing well, Liverpool a brilliant result a few days ago, and Arsenal are competing fantastically well.
"Sometimes a team who can become champions you can always smell that luck and positivity. When I see games most of the time, you can feel champions when the team score and the camaraderie between the players and the celebrations and enjoying playing for each other.
He added: "It was a last-minute goal [against Bournemouth]. I don’t want to say it is a decider of the league as it’s a long way to go. I hope Man City will do it because I’m a fan of Man City."
City themselves have been playing really well of late - and recorded a gutsy 2-0 success over Newcastle last weekend thanks to goals from Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva. It was a win that put them within touching distance of the Gunners, before their comeback victory over Bournemouth.
Arsenal are next in Premier League action on Sunday when they travel across London to face Fulham after their Europa League clash, while City face Crystal Palace in the Saturday Night Football.
