Partey Charged with Rape, Arsenal Criticized

LONDON, FRIDAY - Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has been charged with rape and sexual assault just five days after being released from his contract. Instead of escaping disaster, Arsenal is facing a more serious issue regarding its credibility. They have been criticized for remaining silent during the investigation of the case.

Partey was charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault by the Metropolitan Police Service of Greater London on Friday (4/7/2025 WIB). According to the police, the offenses occurred between 2021 and 2022. Three women were victims in the six cases.

The 32-year-old player will appear at the Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on August 5, 2025. Partey's lawyer, Jenny Wiltshire, stated that the midfielder denies all allegations against him. "He is now looking forward to the opportunity to clear his name," Wiltshire explained.

Arsenal seemed to have escaped a crisis. They had been negotiating a contract extension with Partey in recent weeks. However, the negotiations stalled midway for unknown reasons. The player subsequently left the Emirates Stadium after his contract expired on July 1.

However, "Si Meriam" has become involved in a larger issue. They have been criticized by many netizens on social media for lacking transparency and tending to support the perpetrators in the case. Arsenal has not only played Partey for the past three seasons but also intends to extend his contract.

Although Partey has just been charged, his case has been under investigation by the police since February 2022. The case has already gained widespread attention. Many media outlets have reported on it. Amidst the still unclear news, Arsenal has chosen to retain Partey. They have not commented at all on the issue.

The Partey case has been directly compared to the charges against former Everton player Gylfi Sigurdsson. Everton immediately suspended the player while the police conducted an investigation into a case of sexual abuse against a minor in July 2021. Everton's decisive action was praised, even though the case was closed due to insufficient evidence 21 months later.

The explanation from Arsenal is still awaited to this day. The club has yet to comment on the matter. They seem to be concealing everything related to Partey for the time being. This is clearly evident in the club's social media activity in several recent posts.

Arsenal has announced the termination of the contract with defender Takehiro Tomiyasu, which took place this Friday. They expressed farewell words. However, Arsenal has not posted anything regarding Partey, who has left the club since the first day of July.

Although the news magnet is focused on speculation regarding Partey and Arsenal, the victims remain a priority. "Our priority is still to provide support to the women who have reported. We urge anyone who has been affected or has information to speak with our team," said Detective Andy Furphy, who is leading the investigation.

Partey is one of the key players in the squad managed by Mikel Arteta last season. He made 52 appearances to help Arsenal finish in second place in the English Premier League and reach the semifinals of the Champions League. This led "The Gunners" to consider extending his contract.

Not only was he criticized for continuing to play Partey, but Arteta was also highlighted for his statement following Arsenal's victory over Tottenham Hotspur in October 2022. He expressed happiness for Partey for managing to bounce back after being haunted by issues and injuries. Many interpreted those issues as related to allegations of rape.

"We remind everyone that the criminal process is still active, and the defendant has the right to a fair trial. We know there will be significant public interest in this announcement, but it is very important that there is no reporting, commentary, or sharing of information that could harm the trial process," said the chief public prosecutor in North London, Jaswant Narwal. (AP/AFP)