The Ghana international left Arsenal after his contract expired in June and joined Villarreal on August 7.
Former Arsenal footballer Thomas Partey started on the bench in new club Villarreal’s first LaLiga game of the season (Yui Mok/PA)
Former Arsenal footballer Thomas Partey started on the bench in new club Villarreal’s first LaLiga game of the season (Yui Mok/PA) (PA Wire)
Your support helps us to tell the story
Support Now
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.
Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey made his Villarreal debut as a late substitute as his new side launched their LaLiga season with 2-0 home win against 10-man Real Oviedo.
Partey, 32, who was granted conditional bail at Westminster Magistrates’ Court last week after being charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, stepped off the bench in the 82nd minute.
The Ghana international, who has denied all the charges against him, left Arsenal after his contract expired in June and joined Villarreal on August 7.
Newly-promoted Oviedo were reduced to 10 men in the 27th minute when Alberto Reina received his second yellow card.
Etta Eyong headed Villarreal into the lead two minutes later and Pape Gueye struck their second before half-time.
The curtain was lifted on the new LaLiga season in an earlier kick-off at Estadio Montilivi, where visitors Rayo Vallecano beat 10-man Girona 3-1.
Two goals in as many minutes from Jorge de Frutos and Alvaro Garcia put Rayo 2-0 up midway through the first half before Girona’s Paulo Gazzaniga was sent off.
The Argentinian goalkeeper was shown a straight red card in the 43rd minute after bringing down De Frutos in the area and Isi Palazon converted the resulting penalty. Joel Roca pulled one back for Girona in the second half but it was too little, too late.