Sometimes I love writing this blog. And I always love Arsenal football club. I’m proud of the way in which we – for the most part – do things properly. There’s a class about Arsenal that has always been something that we, as fans, are proud of. Trophies are important, the stuff that happens on the pitch impacts us deeply, but we know that Arsenal is a club of class and tradition and I’ve always been proud of that.
Except two times in my life. The first was when the Super League announcement came and it was depresssing to see that Arsenal were willing to go down that US model route and announce they would break away from the Premier League and other competitions. That hit me and I had a rage and sadness about the way in which my club had acted.
The second was yesterday when, after we’d just released Thomas Partey from his contract, he was officially charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. And today I am sad. Firstly, I’m sad for the women who are caught up in this, because they have had to sit on this for literal years before it became public. Lord knows what they have been through and whilst I don’t know them, follow them or haven’t seen too much about them, I think I’ve seen some stories about how they have been abused online because of this situation. I’m sorry but that is utterly inexcusable. To abuse somebody because they have been wronged and you have an affinity with the predator of this situation? Unacceptable to me. They will get their day in court and they will be able to tell their side of the story and that is important. We are talking about one of the most heinous crimes you can get; a violation of somebody that no human being should have to go through. Of course at this stage we have to say that these are merely allegations and Partey – via his lawyer – has said he welcomes the opportunity to finally clear his name.
That last bit tells its own story – finally. So basically this is an acknowledgement that everyone knew this existed. Which also means the club knew about this for a long time. Yet no action was taken. Worse than that, Partey has played an integral role in the back end of this season and that in itself is bad enough. I was talking about this yesterday with the wife and we both agreed that there would – and should – have been things Arsenal could have done. They could have suspended him pending the conclusion of this situation. They could have sacked him outright. They could have told the world he was injured. There’s lots of ways they could have handled this. Yet it was swept under the carpet and then cynically it has all come out now that he has departed the club. I’m sure you’ve thought this as well, but I also think about how there were noises that the club wanted to renew his contract! Knowing what they will have known, how on earth they could have even remotely entertained that idea is utterly baffling and really quite tragic to think about. The ‘look the other way’ nature of this leaves a blemish on Arsenal’s history and I hope there are some serious questions being asked about how thie should have been handled. More importantly, that this never happens again.
I am also slightly concerned that it wasn’t until he was released that this process has been made public. Why is that? I really hope it isn’t because he is a famous and high profile person. Again, I do not know the in’s and out’s of this situation, we all have to be careful how we talk about what is a very serious crime, but the timing of this announcement has left me with a knot in my stomach because I immediately start to think about sinister reasons behind it all coming out now as opposed to previously.
I don’t really want to comment too much more on this, because of the sensitive nature, but let’s just say it’s not a great day to be an Arsenal fan.
I wanted to say a few final words about Tomiyasu though, as a way of looking at a positive contribution to the club. I remember when we signed him – I was in Portugal and I had Sky Sports News on in the hotel room. The wife was like “are we going down to the pool now?” and I made her wait five minutes so I could read and watch all of the breaking news on it. His first season was immense at right back but that first injury he got set the sad tone for his Arsenal career: Blighted by injuries and unable to put together any kind of rhythm. It’s testament to the man himself that, despite that, the club offered him an extension last summer. But it said a lot that it was just one year with an additional one year, so that he could prove his fitness, which sadly he has not done and now he’s exited the club. I believe he still has four or five months of rehab left so my hope is that the club still offer him their facilities. Tomi, you were a fine player and by the sounds of it a lovely person, so I don’t think there’s a single Arsenal fan out there who wouldn’t wish you the best of luck.
Right, I’m wrapping this up for today, with the hope that we have some good news at some point.
Catch you tomorrow.
Hmm – you seem to have forgotten the principle that one is innocent until proven guilty.
This isn’t new news and was publicised back when the initial accusations were made. Then followed by counter accusations of the offended parties being a spurned ex girlfriend and her friend. The third accusation seemed more spurious from my memory. Someone is lying that’s the only fact known currently.
You, just like the rest of us, don’t know the facts so your supposition is poor form. The club stuck by him so clearly believe his version of events?
The player seems to welcome the bringing of charges as an opportunity to clear his name. If he is guilty then he will be found so and then you can question the clubs actions and decry the player as sub human – but your decision to do so now – rather than be objective for a player that has been largely great for us since his arrival – we’ll, there is nothing more to say in my view.
As for timing – Partey is out of contract and will likely be leaving the UK – perhaps to a country with less that simple extradition protocols. I imagine that’s a CPS decision point
I hope he is innocent – but support the most stringent penalties if he is found otherwise- until then ….
You admit you don’t know the ins and outs of this situation but you and your misses agree the player should have been sacked……. Tat says more about you and your misses than te accused…
Get what you say, but at what point does a club get to say an accusation is truthful and the ‘offender’ is guilty and subsequently suspended or sacked. No one knows the reason for the delay in levying charges, but I’m pretty sure the Crown Prosecution wouldn’t listen to any Football Club asking to wait until the end of the season to charge one of their players.