Arsenal information: £61m switch goal in talks with membership as negotiations begin over deal
Arsenal are preparing for their Champions League opener against Napoli after making a winning start to their Premier League title defence
Mikel Arteta’s side have made a winning start to the season
Arsenal landed the first blow of the Premier League title race by beating Chelsea to extend their winning start to the season before turning their attention to the Champions League.
There were numerous contentious moments in the London derby and debates will likely persist in West London while Chelsea – absent from Europe this term – face a longer hiatus before resuming league duties. One such issue involves a tackle on Emi Martinez by Gabriel, with the controversy still ongoing.
The Gunners face Napoli on Wednesday and Mikel Arteta’s side will be looking to add to their three victories from four previous encounters with the Serie A team. Here, the Daily Star Sport looks at the latest Arsenal news.
Referee Glenn Nyberg will take charge of Arsenal’s Champions League clash with Napoli(Image: Getty Images)
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Referee reunion on the horizon
Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg will be the official in charge when Arsenal visit Napoli on Wednesday. If that name rings a bell, it’s because he officiated the Gunners’ home leg against Bayern Munich in the 2023/24 edition of the competition.
That fixture concluded 2-2 and was defined by two spot-kick incidents. Harry Kane netted Bayern’s second from the penalty spot, but Nyberg chose not to award Arsenal a penalty following a late clash involving Bukayo Saka and Manuel Neuer.
The Bayern encounter wasn’t Nyberg’s first involvement with the North London outfit. He had previously officiated a group stage match earlier that same campaign when Mikel Arteta’s men triumphed away at Sevilla.
Gabriel red card verdict
Gabriel kicks Emi Martinez(Image: Sky Sports)
Former Manchester United legends Wayne Rooney and Ashley Young believe Gabriel can count himself lucky to have escaped a red card during Arsenal’s triumph over Chelsea. Both felt the Brazilian should have seen red after catching visiting keeper Emi Martinez in the head with his boot.
“Martinez has got the ball in his hands and Gabriel boots him in the head, he swings a leg and goes way over the top. He’s extremely lucky to stay on the pitch,” Rooney said on Match of the Day.
Young shared that view, commenting: “When the ball is on the floor and Martinez has it, Gabriel kicks so high. I’m not sure why it hasn’t gone to VAR of if they’ve properly studied it because he’s nowhere the ball. He’s got away with one there.”
Brentford open talks with Arsenal target
Arsenal have been linked with signing Kevin Schade (Image: Anna Gowthorpe/Shutterstock)
Brentford have started negotiations with Arsenal target Kevin Schade over a new contract, according to TEAMtalk.
The 24-year-old forward has two years remaining on the five-year deal he signed when he arrived permanently in 2023, and the Bees are eager to tie him down to new terms.
Arsenal enquired about signing Schade in the summer as they looked to strengthen the left side of their attack; however, Brentford made it clear the German was not for sale.
Brentford paid in the region of £22m to sign Schade permanently from Freiburg in the summer of 2023 after he impressed on loan following a January deal under then boss Thomas Frank.
He has scored 23 goals in 116 games in West London and bagged eight times in the Premier League last campaign, also registering four assists.
Bayern Munich were said to be interested in bringing him back to the Bundesliga in the summer, but reportedly refused to meet Brentford’s asking price of £61m.
