Thomas Partey has announced his new name - but the back of his Arsenal shirt won't change.
The Gunners linchpin has opted to go by his Muslim title "Yakubu" for his wife, Sara Bella, but will continue to be known in football by his commonly-known name. Currently back home in native Ghana, Partey has confirmed his conversion to Islam, having been born a Christian in the country's eastern region.
"I have a girl I love, I know my side chicks will leave me but it's no problem," the 28-year-old joked in a video posted by prominent Ghanaian journalist Nana Aba Anamoah, as quoted by Pulse. "I grew up with Muslims so at the end of the day it's the same thing. I'm already married and my Muslim name is Yakubu."
The former Atletico Madrid midfielder was pictured posing next to a Muslim cleric in March, having also long been rumoured to be dating Moroccan brunette Sara Bella. Although proud of his faith, the Ghana vice-captain will continue to wear 'Thomas' on the back of his kit and fans who own a replica of his shirt can allay their fears.
A key cog in Mikel Arteta 's side, they've failed to win 18 of the 32 games which Partey has missed since signing for Arsenal in a £45 million transfer two years ago. In a concerning update, the ex-Mallorca and Almeria loanee was omitted from his national team's squad for the ongoing round of matches.
According to the Evening Standard, Partey is still not at 100 per cent fit after suffering a hamstring injury in the Gunners' damning 3-0 loss at Crystal Palace on April 4. The combative midfielder's absence was part of why Arsenal dramatically dropped out of the top four during the final stretch of the campaign and agonisingly handed bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur Champions League football next season.
Arteta has been forced to admit that his side are over-reliant on Partey, suggesting that he and his coaching staff must find new ways to compensate for his frequent absences. "The stats are there and they are unquestionable," the Gunners boss conceded shortly before the end of the term.
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"The win rate when Thomas is there is higher. It is something that is not good for us because in the last two seasons he has not been there as much as we want. We need him to play in that role on his own, with the quality he brings and the experience that he brings. And the fact he brings things that are unique that we want.
"Then we can accommodate players in other positions that for them are more relevant and can determine games in the way that we can. Otherwise we have to consider and improve with the players we have by using them in a different way, changing formation and finding ways to compensate."
