Arsenal information: Mikel Arteta ‘given clear run’ to signal dream £128m switch goal
Mikel Arteta could return to sign his dream transfer target in the January transfer window after Arsenal were handed a clear run to sign the £128million star
Mikel Arteta could return for his top target in January
Mikel Arteta and Arsenal have three long weeks before they can set the record straight after suffering defeat for the first time this campaign.
The defending Premier League champions were thrashed 3-0 by Brighton and won’t be back in action until Leeds United visit the Emirates Stadium on October 10. It proved a torturous afternoon for the Gunners at the Amex Stadium as strikes from Pascal Gross, Charalampos Kostoulas and Chema Andres secured all three points for Brighton.
It could have got even worse for the Gunners with Declan Rice lucky to avoid a red card following an off-the-ball altercation. Here, the Daily Star Sport looks at the latest news from around the Emirates Stadium.
Declan Rice was lucky to escape red in Arsenal’s hammering by Brighton(Image: Clive Rose, Getty Images)
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Rice red card verdict
Declan Rice avoided punishment after lashing out at Brighton midfielder Malick Yalcouye during stoppage time in Saturday’s reverse. Nevertheless, after pundit Alan Shearer stated he doesn’t believe it warranted a red card, ex-Premier League official Dermot Gallagher has agreed.
“I think it’s petulant. What you’ve got to remember is that it’s got to be deemed violent conduct,” Gallagher said during an appearance on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch. “Is that brutal or malicious? I think not. He runs a risk, there’s no doubt about that. For me, that’s not an act of violence. It’s a very unwise thing to do, but the referee got it right.”
International absences announced
Piero Hincapie has withdrawn from international duty(Image: Stuart MacFarlane, Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
While many of his Arsenal colleagues jet off for international duty, Piero Hincapie will remain at home. He is one of several high-profile players missing from the Ecuador squad, alongside Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo and Joel Ordonez of Club Brugge.
Reports from South America suggest ‘injuries and physical issues’ are the reason for the trio’s absence. Hincapie was an unused substitute for Arsenal at Brighton on Saturday but hasn’t seen any action since the Champions League clash with Napoli on September 9.
Ecuador take on South Korea on September 24 in the first of three matches during this international break. This presents the players with their first opportunity to impress new boss Marcelo Gallardo, who took over from Sebastian Beccacece following the World Cup.
Hincapie’s club mate Rice will also sit out the upcoming international break, with football.london indicating this is due to load management. The England midfielder is one of five big names to pull out of Thomas Tuchel’s squad at the time of writing, with Chelsea’s Cole Palmer among the others.
Alvarez swoop back on the cards
Julian Alvarez could be available in January(Image: Getty Images)
After failing to convince Julian Alvarez to swap Madrid for north London in the summer, Arsenal could return with a new approach for the Atletico star in January.
And their attempts to attract him to the Emirates will be boosted by a report by Fichajes in Spain, claiming that Barcelona have moved on from the idea of signing Alvarez with more pressing concerns elsewhere in the team.
Alvarez pushed in vain for a summer switch to the Camp Nou, with a £128million price tag reported. However, if the Catalan giants fail to return for the former Manchester City striker, the Gunners could have a clear run.
