Mirror: Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault charges

British media Mirror reported that former Arsenal midfielder Thomas attended court the day after representing Villarreal and pleaded not guilty to the rape and sexual assault charges.

Thomas faces five rape charges against two women and sexual assault charges against a third woman. The crimes allegedly occurred between 2021 and 2022, when he was playing for Arsenal.

Thomas left the Gunners in a free transfer this summer to join Villarreal. In the UEFA Champions League Villarreal lost 0-1 to Tottenham, Thomas made a substitute in the 78th minute and attended the trial of the Southwark Criminal Court the next morning.

Thomas walked into court in a dark suit and pleaded not guilty to all six charges after confirming his full name and date of birth. Thomas was indicted in July this year, just four days after his contract with Arsenal expired in June. The Metropolitan Police Department of London received a report of related rape allegations as early as February 2022.

Thomas, who attended Westminster District Court trial on August 5, was granted conditional bail at the time, meaning he was not allowed to contact any of the three women and had to report any permanent address change or international travel plans to the police.

Earlier this summer, his legal team represented by lawyer Jenny Wilt Hill, a law firm at Hickman and Rose, issued a statement saying: "Thomas denied all charges. He has always cooperated with the Crown Prosecutor's Office for three years of investigation. Now he looks forward to the opportunity to thoroughly clarify his reputation. Given the legal process is underway, my client cannot comment further."

Thomas transferred from Atletico Madrid to Arsenal in 2020 for £45 million, scoring 9 goals for the club in 167 games. He has played five times for the team after signing a one-year contract with Villarreal this summer.