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Video Shows Thomas Partey Bullying Lionel Messi And Making Him Look Like An Amateur Footballer

Video Shows Thomas Partey Bullying Lionel Messi And Making Him Look Like An Amateur Footballer

Looks like Arsenal's Thomas is Messi's ultimate party pooper.

Alex Reid

Alex Reid

A video showing Thomas Partey continually stopping Lionel Messi in his tracks is getting Arsenal fans excited.

The club's new £45 million signing constantly came up against Barcelona's No 10 during his six seasons at Atletico Madrid, particularly when Messi would drop deep and all-action midfielder Partey would often be the first man to him.

As this highlights package shows, he was more successful than most in stopping Barca's genius - often leaving Messi flapping his arms in pure frustration.

OK, several of the clips are Partey just bodychecking the Argentinian with his physical strength. But - more impressively - Thomas also shows a neat array of flicked interceptions and perfectly timed slide tackles, winning the ball as Messi attacks.

Stopping Messi with the ball at his feet as he runs towards you is about the most challenging one-on-one in football history. So Partey is really showing elite defensive skill in some of these moments.

The two-minute video is titled 'Thomas Partey Made MESSI Look Like Lingard!' - which may be pushing it a bit (no disrespect, JLingz).

Messi has been a thorn in Arsenal's arse in the past, netting nine goals in just six games against them (a goal every 49 minutes and 40 seconds). Although with Arsenal in the Europa League this season, it'll take Barcelona dropping out of their Champions League group in third spot, then drawing Arsenal, for Messi to face the Gunners in Europe this season.

But if that unusual set of events take place, Arsenal now have Messi's ultimate nemesis in their midfield.

Of course, some might point out that this video doesn't show any of the moments Messi glides past the 27-year-old Partey, leaving him in his wake. But Thomas is only human, and he's clearly had his moments winning duels against the six-time Ballon d'Or winner.

Can you think of a player with a better record of stopping Messi than Thomas Partey? Let us know in the comments.

Imagery: PA Images/YouTube

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Topics: Football News, Football, Barcelona, Lionel Messi, Premier League, Arsenal, La Liga

Alex Reid is a writer at SPORTbible who’s previously strung words together for FourFourTwo, Boxing News, The Guardian and, yes, Cruise International (it’s about big ships, not Tom). Interests range from football and boxing to real sports like WWE and darts. He is not a cage fighter.

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@otheralexreid