Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, has maintained that the team responded sensibly to the current situation surrounding Thomas Partey, a former player.
It should be noted that on June 30, 2025, Thomas Partey left Arsenal when his contract with the team expired.
Reports surfaced that the 32-year-old Ghanaian international was charged with multiple counts of rape and sexual assault just four days after he formally left the Gunners.
According to reports, Partey faces five rape charges and one sexual assault charge related to occurrences that occurred in 2021 and 2022 involving three separate women. This was made public by the Metropolitan Police in a statement on July 4.
Arteta was asked if he thought Arsenal handled the problem correctly while Thomas Partey was still a player, ahead of the team’s preseason match against AC Milan in Singapore.
Read Also: Is CBN Sabotaging the Economy? Surplus Cash Mismanagement Under Fire
In response, Arteta said, “The club was very clear in its statement.” “I can’t comment on any of that because there are a lot of complicated legal matters.”
Arteta responded, “100%, yes,” when asked if he had complete faith in Arsenal’s internal processes.
The charges include several complainants and a convoluted timetable. Three further rape charges are related to another lady, while two of the charges were based on accusations made by one woman. The third woman is linked to the single count of sexual assault.
Partey has refuted every accusation through his legal team and “welcomes the opportunity to finally clear his name.”
Police reportedly started looking into the issue in February 2022 following the initial rape complaint.
Partey was a key member of Arsenal’s midfield last season after joining the team for £45 million from Atletico Madrid in 2020. He scored four goals while playing in 35 Premier League games.
As the Gunners advanced to the semi-finals of the Champions League last season before losing to eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain, Partey made 12 appearances.
The Ghanaian international is expected to show up on August 5 at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
The Premier League team’s preseason schedule for Arsenal includes matches against Tottenham Hotspur at 12:30 p.m. on July 31, Newcastle United on Sunday, July 27, and Inter Milan on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m.
