MIKEL Arteta is counting on Thomas Partey’s “natural” talent to help Arsenal “dominate” a tough run of fixtures in the coming weeks.

A thigh injury has hampered Partey’s impact since he arrived in north London from Atletico Madrid in October.

But the Ghana international returned to Premier League action in Monday’s 3-0 win over Newcastle, and Arteta says he is delighted to have such “a special player” back.

“We have been missing Tommy. He has this presence, this aura, that makes him a special player for us,” said the Gunners boss.

“Hopefully we can keep him fit because we can all see the difference he makes.”

Arsenal travel to Southampton this Saturday in the fourth round of the FA Cup, before returning to St Mary’s on Tuesday in the league.

They then host Manchester United, before facing a February that includes league games against Wolves, Aston Villa, Leeds, Manchester City and Leicester City.

Arteta knows Partey will be pivotal to any success the Gunners might enjoy during that time.

And he even teased Gooners by hinting that they will see a player enjoying “more freedom” than he had at Atletico.

Asked if Partey would be encouraged to be more attack-minded, Arteta said: “Yes, technically he is more than capable of doing that and he’s great in transitional moments as well. It will take him some time to understand a different way of thinking or doing things than what he was doing with the previous team he was involved in. He has all the characteristics that we need to make us better.

“His dynamism, his physicality, his creativity and the presence that nature has given him.

“You have that person on the pitch and you are able to dominate a game when it is needed.”

Arsenal parted ways with defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos yesterday (Wednesday). The 32-year-old’s contract was set to expire at the end of the season but both parties came to an agreement to cancel his deal six months early.

Meanwhile, with Mesut Ozil in Istanbul finalising his pending transfer to Fenerbahce, it seems his move has possibly sparked another departure at Arsenal.

The playmaker said his goodbyes to teammates at the club’s London Colney training ground.

Shkodran Mustafi responded by branding Ozil “the most unselfish player” he has shared a dressing room with.

And the centre-back, who becomes a free agent in June, wrote on Twitter: “You will be always remembered as the #AssistKing. Unfortunately we as a team haven’t been able to assist you when you needed us the most.”