Overview

• The Metropolitan Police charged Thomas Partey on July 4 with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault after a three-year investigation.
• Partey’s contract expired on June 30 and he left Arsenal as a free agent days before the Crown Prosecution Service approved the charges.
• Arteta made his first public comments in Singapore during Arsenal’s pre-season tour and insisted the club had followed every internal and external procedure.
• Arsenal released a statement on the day of the charges saying it could not comment further because of ongoing legal proceedings.
• Reports that concerns were raised with Arsenal, the FA and the Premier League in September 2021 have renewed calls for standardized suspension rules in football.