Mikel Arteta reckons Arsenal did everything by the book with Thomas Partey after the midfielder got charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. What a load of bollocks!
Partey's contract expires amidst serious allegations
The 32-year-old left Arsenal when his contract ran out earlier this month, and just four days later he was charged by the Crown Prosecution Service. The allegations are from three different women, who reported incidents between 2021 and 2022. Partey denies all charges against him, but that don't mean jack sh*t.
Partey continues to play despite ongoing investigation
Partey was first arrested in July 2022 but wasn't named at the time. He carried on playing for Arsenal while the investigations were ongoing. The case was passed to the CPS in December 2024, and Partey still kept playing. From the 2022/23 season onwards, he made 108 appearances for the Gunners across all competitions. What the hell were Arsenal thinking letting him play?!
Arsenal release statement on Partey charges
After the charges, Arsenal released some generic statement that said: "The player's contract ended on June 30. Due to ongoing legal proceedings the club is unable to comment on the case." They're probably just trying to cover their own arses.
Arteta speaks out on pre-season tour
The Gunners are now on a pre-season tour in Asia, and Arteta finally spoke about the news of Partey's charges for the first time in Singapore. He said: "The club was very clear in its statement. There are a lot of legal matters that are very complicated so I cannot comment on any of that." When asked if he was confident the club followed the right processes, he said "100 per cent." What a mug!
Partey to appear in court
The 32-year-old will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on August 5. His lawyer Jenny Wiltshire said he "denies all the charges against him" and "has fully cooperated with the police and the CPS throughout their three-year investigation." She added that he "now welcomes the opportunity to finally clear his name." We'll see about that, won't we?
Partey's Arsenal career
The defensive midfielder joined Arsenal in October 2020 after they triggered his £45m release clause from Atletico Madrid. In total, he spent five seasons in north London and made a total of 167 appearances. What a waste of money he turned out to be!
