Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has compared himself to an octopus and said he is ready to get his metaphorical tentacles into Manchester City on Saturday.
Partey, 27, completed a €50 million ($58.72m) transfer deadline day move to Arsenal from Atletico Madrid, making him the club's fourth-most expensive signing.
The combative midfielder said his primary objective is to help Arsenal fight for major trophies and he has made himself available for this weekend's Premier League match against Manchester City at the Etihad.
"The objective of the club, of me myself, is that we have to get back to where we belong," Partey told British media. "Everyone's excited and everyone wants to win something. That's my goal also.
"I always say, if I would be an animal, I would be an octopus. They called me the octopus because I stole a lot of balls.
"I know that working hard and giving all of my best in every game will determine if I live up to the fans' expectations."
Partey added that he felt no pressure because of his hefty price tag and was relishing the challenge of adapting to the Premier League.
"I like to challenge myself," he said. "It's all about learning fast. I want to play in the big matches, but it all depends on [manager Mikel Arteta] whether he wants me to play on Saturday or not."
Partey, who won the Europa League and played in the Champions League final with Atletico, said Mikel Arteta was a major factor in his decision to join Arsenal.
"[Arteta] was very important, him and [technical director] Edu told me about their plans and it was so exciting so I had to accept," he said.
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Top 20 most expensive transfers of the summer
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Kai Havertz: Bayer Leverkusen to Chelsea (€80m/$93.7m) – The 21-year-old midfielder was the marquee signing of an extravagant summer for Chelsea. Getty Images -
Arthur: Barcelona to Juventus (€72m) – A deal that was completed before the end of the delayed season, the 24-year-old Brazilian midfielder moved to Turin after two seasons in Spain. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Victor Osimhen: Lille to Napoli (€70m) – The Italian club smashed their transfer record to sign the 21-year-old Nigerian striker this summer. Getty Images -
Ruben Dias: Benfica to Manchester City (€68m) – The 23-year-old Portuguese centre-back moved to the Etihad Stadium to help shore up City’s backline. PA -
Miralem Pjanic: Juventus to Barcelona (€60m) – Part of the agreement that saw Arthur move to Juventus, the 30-year-old Serbian midfielder moved in the opposite direction in a separate deal. EPA -
Alvaro Morata: Chelsea to Atletico Madrid (€56m) – The 27-year-old Spanish striker made his two-year loan move permanent before returning to former club Juventus in another loan deal. EPA -
Timo Werner: RB Leipzig to Chelsea (€53m) – After a prolific season in the Bundesliga, the 24-year-old German striker swapped Leipzig for London. AP Photo -
Ben Chilwell: Leicester City to Chelsea (€50.2m) – The 23-year-old England left-back was a top target for Chelsea manager Frank Lampard as he aims to solve his team’s defensive issues. AFP -
Mauro Icardi: Inter Milan to Paris Saint-Germain (€50m) – After spending last season on loan with the French champions, the 27-year-old Argentine striker made the move permanent. AFP -
Thomas Partey: Atletico Madrid to Arsenal (€50m) - The biggest deal on deadline day saw the 27-year-old Ghanian midfielder become Arsenal's fourth-most expensive signing. AFP -
Nathan Ake: Bournemouth to Manchester City (€45.3m) – The 25-year-old Dutch defender was an early signing for City from relegated Bournemouth. AFP -
Leroy Sane: Manchester City to Bayern Munich (€45m) – The best German talent often ends up at Bayern, and that’s exactly what happened when the 24-year-old winger left City in July for the European champions. Reuters -
Diogo Jota: Wolves to Liverpool (€44.7m) – Signed to provide competition to Liverpool’s attack, the 23-year-old Portuguese forward moved to Anfield after three years at Wolves. EPA -
Achraf Hakimi: Real Madrid to Inter Milan (€40m) – After two impressive seasons on loan at Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan pounced to sign the 21-year-old Moroccan wing-back. Getty Images -
Hakim Ziyech: Ajax to Chelsea (€40m) – A deal that was completed back in February, the 27-year-old Moroccan winger was the first major signing of Chelsea’s overhaul. Getty Images -
Fabio Silva: Porto to Wolves (€40m) – Wolves broke their transfer record to sign the 18-year-old Portuguese forward. Getty Images -
Donny van de Beek: Ajax to Manchester United (€39m) – The 23-year-old Dutch midfielder moved to the Premier League after five exemplary years in the first team of his boyhood club. Getty Images -
Wesley Fofana: Saint-Etienne to Leicester City (€35m) – The 19-year-old Ivorian defender became Leicester’s second-most expensive signing when he joined the Premier League club at the start of October. Reuters -
Giovani Lo Celso: Real Betis to Tottenham Hotspur (€32m) – After impressing Jose Mourinho during his season on loan, the 24-year-old Spanish midfielder made his move to Spurs permanent. EPA -
Jonathan David: Gent to Lille (€32m) – The French club broke their transfer record to sign the 20-year-old Canadian forward as a replacement for Osimhen. AFP
