Arsenal are flying high in the Premier League as they now turn their attention to the Carabao Cup, but the Gunners have also been very busy off the pitch
Arsenal are on a great run as the Premier League champions are busy on and off the pitch with a potential January transfer swoop on the agenda.
Mikel Arteta is expected to make sweeping changes for the Gunners’ trip away to Ipswich Town in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, just days after overcoming Sunderland in a testing encounter away in the Premier League. Arsenal survived a controversial penalty decision when Ezri Konsa was ruled to have brought down Dan Ballard in the box, only for David Raya to save brilliantly from Enzo Le Fee.
Moments later, Bruno Guimaraes scored a world class strike, before Bukayo Saka punished Sunderland late in the game with a penalty, after Arsenal had shown great resolve to withstand the physical test of the Black Cats. Yet Arteta was still fuming over the earlier decision and it’s clear he has more than just Ipswich on his mind. Here’s all the latest news from the Emirates Stadium.
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Gunners in Pro Ref discussions
Arsenal’s dissatisfaction with Saturday’s refereeing has led the club to commence talks with Howard Webb, chief of officiating organisation Pro Ref, reports football.london.
The annoyance centres around a decision to award a penalty against Ezri Konsa following a scuffle with Dan Ballard, a judgement which was upheld after being checked by VAR.
“I’m so upset, it is unacceptable at this level, unacceptable. It can change the course of the season,” Arteta told TNT Sports after the match.
“I’ve seen it 10 times to make sure and I said ‘it is not possible it is penalty’. It is a judo roll. That’s what it is.
“This cannot happen. In my view. I have been involved in football for 27/28 years. It’s not a penalty in any game, in any game, in any context in any league.”
Match of the Day pundits Ashley Williams and Thomas Frank both believed Sunderland should not have been awarded a penalty after Konsa was adjudged to foul Ballard, instead claiming that Arsenal should have had a free kick.
Paz deal and Real Madrid option
Arsenal are weighing up a January move for Como sensation Nico Paz, yet the Argentina starlet’s previous club Real Madrid could potentially block their path.
The 22-year-old notched 12 goals and seven assists last season as he helped Como secure Champions League qualification for the first time.
He provided two assists in his side’s four-goal triumph over RB Leipzig in Europe last week and found the net for the first time this campaign during a Serie A victory at Genoa.
Paz moved to Como for just over £51m in 2024 but Real Madrid retain an option to bring him back to the Bernabeu for close to £70m in summer 2027.
This presents Arsenal with a potential tussle for one of European football’s most promising talents, who netted once in eight outings for Los Blancos before his switch to Italy.