Mikel Arteta, Arsenal football manager, has broken the club’s silence on their former player Thomas Partey’s rape allegations and subsequent charges.
The Arsenal manager stated that the club followed procedures in allowing Thomas Partey to play despite the rape allegations.
Mikel Arteta claimed Arsenal could not have suspended the Ghanaian midfielder.
Speaking during the club’s pre-season tour of Asia, Arteta described the situation as very complicated.
According to ESPN, Mikel Arteta further emphasised that Arsenal 100 per cent followed the correct procedures.
Also, an alleged victim in the Thomas Partey rape case has alleged receiving death threats from some football fans.
According to her, football fans mostly send her images of Thomas Partey while he was playing for Arsenal.
The victim alleged that football fans threatened her with death and rape threats, and even threatened to set her on fire.
The alleged victim, speaking to British media outlet The Athletic, stated, “I would frequently get messages from fans. They’d send me pictures of him playing or scoring.
I would get death threats, rape threats, people saying they’d set me on fire. If he scored, for example, the abuse would be worse,” she stated.
Thomas Partey Charged
Thomas Partey has been charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault by the Metropolitan Police Service.
“The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised the Metropolitan Police Service to charge a man after a file of evidence was submitted by detectives.
“The Met has issued a charge and requisition to Thomas Partey, 32 (13/06/1992), of Hertfordshire, in connection with the following offences: Five counts of rape, one count of sexual assault.”
According to reports, the offences are alleged to have taken place between 2021 and 2022.
Thomas Partey, 32, officially left Arsenal on July 1, 2025, after his contract expired after five years at the Emirates following a £45 million move from spanish side Atletico Madrid in September 2020.
Dan Kwaku Yeboah comments on Partey’s rape charges
Meanwhile, Dan Kwaku Yeboah, a renowned sports journalist, has stated that Thomas Partey’s rape charges timing is a calculated attempt to destroy his career.
According to Dan Kwaku Yeboah, the way the charges surfaced, he believes the person influenced Arsenal’s decision not to extend Partey’s contract.
He noted that the alleged incident happened in 2022 but was kept under wraps until he was out of the club.
The sports journalist added that the charges would negatively impact Partey’s football career, as clubs will hesitate to sign him until the case is resolved.
Speaking on Radio XYZ, Kwaku Yeboah stated, “With the way the charges surfaced, I believe the person who influenced Arsenal’s decision not to extend Partey’s contract is behind this. At this point, it will reduce his market value and discourage interested clubs.
“They have decided to destroy his career. How could something that happened in 2022 be kept under wraps until he was out of the club? This is a calculated attempt”.
“People are advising him and other men to be careful, but that may be hypocritical. Men are moved by sight, so if a woman appears naked, it’s likely the man will be aroused,” he added.
