Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has stated unequivocally that he is “100%” confident the club adhered to all proper procedures in handling the case involving former midfielder Thomas Partey, who is now facing multiple charges in the UK.
Partey, a 32-year-old Ghana international, departed Arsenal upon the expiration of his contract on June 30.
Just days later, on July 4, the Metropolitan Police announced he had been formally charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, relating to incidents reported to have occurred in 2021 and 2022.
According to the police statement, the charges concern three women, with two counts of rape tied to one complainant, three counts of rape linked to a second, and one sexual assault allegation connected to a third individual.
Partey denies all charges, with his lawyer stating he “welcomes the opportunity to finally clear his name.”
Arteta, addressing the matter at a press conference in Singapore ahead of Arsenal’s pre-season match against AC Milan, declined to discuss the specifics of the legal proceedings but stood firmly behind the club’s conduct.
“The club was very clear in its statement,” Arteta said. “There are a lot of legal matters that are very complicated so I cannot comment on any of that.”
When asked directly whether he believed Arsenal had handled the situation appropriately, the manager responded without hesitation: “100%, yes.”
Partey’s initial investigation began in February 2022, shortly after police received the first report. He is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on August 5.
Partey joined Arsenal from Atlético Madrid in October 2020 for £45 million.
In the 2024/25 season, he made 35 Premier League appearances, scoring four goals, and featured 12 times in the UEFA Champions League, where Arsenal reached the semi-finals before being eliminated by eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain.
