There is ongoing tension between Arsenal and Newcastle United over their attitudes towards state-owned clubs, according to a report.
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND: Eddie Howe, Manager of Newcastle United, reacts during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Arsenal FC at St. James Park on November 04, 2023. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Miguel Delaney reports for the Independent that there is ongoing tension between the Newcastle United hierarchy and Arsenal, with Newcastle unhappy at the Gunners’ attitude towards state-owned clubs.
Delaney writes that some Arsenal executives have been at the forefront of Premier League moves to restrict the financial power of Manchester City and Newcastle, which has led to colder relationships at boardroom level.
That tension came to the fore this summer amid Arsenal’s interest in a couple of Newcastle’s key players, Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimaraes. Newcastle want to keep both, and didn’t entertain the Gunners for long.
Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak reacts after they concede their third goal during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Manchester City at St James’ Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on January 13, 2024. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
On the surface, that sounds like a bad thing for Arsenal, and Newcastle’s unwillingness to do business with the Gunners may yet prove to be an issue.
But Newcastle aren’t selling Isak or Guimaraes to anyone else either.
Manchester City in particular have been credited with an interest in Guimaraes, and as another state-owned club, they should be on Newcastle’s side in any Premier League disputes. Yet they’ve been no more successful in completing that signing than Arsenal.
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND: Newcastle United player Bruno Guimaraes applauds the fans after the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur at St. James Park on April 13, 2024. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
If anything, Newcastle’s feelings towards Arsenal have somewhat helped the Gunners this summer, as the Isak saga came to a swift conclusion and they haven’t wasted any more time on it.
It would be a different story if Newcastle had decided to sell and specifically ruled Arsenal out as a potential destination. That’s not what’s happened.
