Arsenal triggered the release clause in Partey’s contract to snare him away from Atletico Madrid on the final day of last year’s summer transfer window.
The midfielder was expected to make a major impact on Arsenal, but he suffered a few injuries in the first half of the season and has looked out of sorts for the Gunners in recent weeks.
Nicol conceded that when Arsenal signed him last season he thought that Partey would be a brilliant addition and he expected to see him make an impact.
But he insisted that the Ghanaian has not looked much different to other average Arsenal midfielders he has seen over the last few years.
The former Liverpool star said on ESPN FC: “Thomas Partey I thought would be fantastic.
“For the last two or three seasons, we have spoken about how in the middle of the park there was no guts, no drive, no real players and then they go buy him.
“And you think, ‘I like that, this looks good’, but you know what, he looks like an Arsenal player now, a bang average Arsenal player from the last two or three seasons.
“Even he hasn’t had an influence.”
Arsenal are now at risk of not managing to qualify for Europe for the first time in 25 years.
