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Topics: Mikel Arteta, Thomas Partey, Arsenal, Football, Premier League
Ryan Smart
Topics: Mikel Arteta, Thomas Partey, Arsenal, Football, Premier League
Mikel Arteta says he believes that Arsenal '100 per cent' followed the correct processes over Thomas Partey after the former Gunners player was charged with rape.
On July 4, the Metropolitan Police announced that Partey had been charged with two counts of rape relating to one woman, three counts of rape relating to a second woman, and one count of sexual assault relating to a third woman.
The alleged offences are reported to have taken place between 2021 and 2022.
The charges were brought against the Ghana international following an investigation by detectives, which began in February 2022.
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Partey is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, August 5.
The 32-year-old denies all the charges against him, with his lawyer stating (via The Athletic) that he 'now welcomes the opportunity to finally clear his name'.
Partey was first arrested on suspicion of rape in July 2022, and the case was passed on to the Crown Prosecution Service in December 2024.
Partey, who, under UK law, could not be named until the announcement of charges earlier this month, continued to play for Arsenal's first team before being released by the club at the end of his contract on July 1.
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Gunners manager Arteta was asked about the charges in a press conference in Singapore ahead of Arsenal's pre-season tour of Asia getting underway.
He replied: "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."
He was then asked whether he was confident that the club had followed the right processes, to which he replied: "100 per cent."
After the announcement of charges by the Metropolitan Police, an Arsenal club statement read: "The player's contract ended on June 30. Due to ongoing legal proceedings the club is unable to comment on the case."