Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has expressed complete confidence in the club's handling of the situation involving former midfielder Thomas Partey, who was under police investigation for multiple rape charges during his time with the team.
The 32-year-old Ghanaian midfielder left Arsenal at the end of his contract on June 30. Just four days later, he was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.
According to a statement released by the Metropolitan Police on July 4, the alleged offences occurred in 2021 and 2022. The charges involve three women: two counts of rape concerning one woman, three counts of rape related to a second woman, and one count of sexual assault involving a third woman.
Partey has denied the charges and, through his lawyer, expressed a desire to clear his name.
The investigation began in February 2022 after an initial report of rape was filed with the police.
Currently, Arsenal is in Singapore for their pre-season tour, with matches scheduled against AC Milan and Newcastle, followed by a game against Tottenham in Hong Kong.
Arteta addressed the situation during a news conference ahead of the match against Milan, stating, "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 questioned about fans' concerns regarding the club's handling of the matter, Arteta responded, "100%, yes," indicating his full confidence in the processes followed by the club.
Thomas Partey is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on August 5. He joined Arsenal from Atletico Madrid in October 2020 for £45 million. Last season, he made 35 Premier League appearances and scored four goals, contributing to Arsenal's second-place finish. He also participated in 12 Champions League matches, helping the team reach the semi-finals before being eliminated by eventual champions Paris St-Germain.
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