Arsenal Sticks to Its Guns on Partey Saga, Arteta Says Club Did Everything by the Book
Arsenal “Followed Right Processes” in Thomas Partey Case – Arteta
Alright, so here’s the deal: Mikel Arteta isn’t backing down when it comes to Arsenal’s handling of the Thomas Partey mess. Straight from Singapore during the club’s pre-season swing, Arteta told reporters he’s “100 per cent” sure Arsenal played by the rules after Partey got slapped with multiple rape and sexual assault charges earlier this month. Talk about a headline that makes your coffee taste weird.
So, quick recap if you missed the drama: On July 4, 2025, the Met Police hit Partey with five counts of rape and one of sexual assault, tied to incidents between 2021 and 2022. Cops started poking around in early 2022, arrested him in February that year, but he kept playing for Arsenal because nobody named him then. His contract quietly ended June 30, just days before the charges hit the news. Coincidence? Maybe. Maybe not. Partey’s still denying everything, and his lawyers are prepping for his court date on August 5.
Back to Arteta—he basically repeated the club’s line: “We did everything right, trust us.” He wasn’t about to spill any tea, either, blaming “legal sensitivities” for keeping his lips zipped. So, the message? Arsenal’s not sweating their own decision-making. At least, that’s how they want it to look.
The club put out a dry little statement too—classic PR stuff: “Contract’s over, legal case ongoing, no comment.” Legally, they kinda have to keep quiet; UK law is strict about not messing up trials with public chatter. Still, Arsenal claims they stuck to legal advice and their own playbook.
But, yeah, not everyone’s buying it. Fans, journalists, and basically every armchair pundit with a Twitter account have been side-eyeing Arsenal hard. The Guardian even called out the club, saying this whole “let him play while under investigation” thing doesn’t scream “community and integrity.” Fun fact: Partey played over 100 games after his arrest, and there was even talk of giving him a new deal as late as March 2025. Not exactly a great look, huh? Meanwhile, other clubs (looking at you, Man City during the Mendy saga) benched their players until the courts sorted things out.
All this mess drags up the never-ending headache of how clubs should deal with players facing serious accusations. Sure, in the UK you’re innocent till proven guilty. But clubs risk looking like they’re turning a blind eye, or worse—only caring about winning. They can’t just boot someone without risking a lawsuit, but letting them play sends a pretty dubious message too. Rock, meet hard place.
One thing’s for sure: Arsenal’s gone full-on poker face. They kept everything hush-hush for ages—no official peep about any legal trouble until the charges actually dropped. Even when the press sniffed out that an Arsenal player got arrested in 2022, the club stonewalled. So now, loads of fans are left wondering: how much do clubs actually owe us in terms of honesty, especially when the accusations are this serious?
Anyway, what now? Partey shows up in court August 5. His lawyers are keeping quiet except to say he’s innocent. Arsenal haven’t said if the case had anything to do with not renewing his contract—or if he’d have been out the door anyway. Meanwhile, the club’s just trying to get through pre-season, with games against AC Milan and Newcastle coming up. Arteta says it’s all about football. Yeah, easier said than done when the off-pitch drama is this loud.
Honestly, this whole thing could end up changing how big clubs deal with legal scandals. It’s a mess, and there are no easy answers. Stay tuned—I’ve got a feeling this story’s just getting started.
Arsenal Thomas Partey case | Thomas Partey rape charges | Arteta on Partey charges | Arsenal legal process | Arsenal player criminal case | Thomas Partey court date | Premier League off-field issues | Football club responsibility | Arsenal player investigation | Arsenal 2025 pre-season
