Arsenal Files: Half-Time Controversy Strikes Atletico Madrid, Gunners Academy Keeper Takes on Outfield Role!

MIKEL ARTETA may think that his first-team injury problems are bad, but at least he isn’t having to play goalkeepers outfield and outfield players in goal.

Unbelievably, that is exactly what has happened to the Gunners at the youth level this season.

Arsenal youth keeper Jack Talbot played at right-back for the Under-18s after an injury Credit: Getty Talbot played the last few minutes of a game against Crystal Palace after Callan Hamill went off Credit: Getty

Earlier this week, U18 goalkeeper Jack Talbot was substituted at right-back after a late injury to Callan Hamill.

Talbot, 17, played the final few minutes of the Young Guns 3-2 defeat to in the U18s Premier League South as a defender. Arsenal had already exhausted all of their outfield options in earlier substitutions.

The keeper didn’t even have the right kit, so had to play in his yellow shorts and socks with a spare outfield shirt thrown on top.

Bizarrely, this isn’t the first time something like this has happened at Hale End this season.

In March, winger Louis Zecevic-John had to play in goal for the latter stages of Arsenal’s U18s Premier League clash against .

The 18-year-old had opened the scoring for Arsenal, rounding the Fulham goalkeeper and tucking home to put the Gunners 1-0 up.

But, after conceding twice and falling behind in the game, goalkeeper Remi Lupinski was shown a straight red card for handling outside the area, and Zecevic-John stepped up to spend the last ten minutes between the sticks.

Arsenal’s youth teams have had a rocky campaign to say the least this term.

Outfielder Louis Zecevic John had to play in goal for the Gunners earlier this season Credit: Getty

The Under-18s are currently sat 11th in the U18 Premier League table, having won just eight of their 24 games this season.

Meanwhile, the Under-21s’ campaign ended last week after a 3-1 defeat to Manchester City eliminated them from the Premier League 2 play-offs, following their 14th-place finish in the regular season.

The Under-19s also struggled this season, exiting the Uefa Youth League in the group stage after losing five of their six games.

Significant changes are expected in the Arsenal academy this summer, as academy manager steps down at the end of the season.

It is yet to be seen if there will be any changes in the coaching staff, however there is no way to sugarcoat what has been a largely disappointing campaign across the board.

MUSICAL CHAIRS

THE Emirates Stadium atmosphere could be completely different next season.

That is because season ticket holders have been invited to relocate their seats in recent weeks.

Fans who were interested in moving seats were able to try and move their tickets to a different part of the stadium.

Arsenal season ticket holders have been invited to relocate to another part of the Emirates Credit: Getty Some fans are keen to move to areas of the ground with louder atmospheres Credit: Getty

Certain locations, such as the North Bank and the Clock End lower, are known to have louder atmospheres than other areas of the ground.

It comes ahead of the introduction of safe standing at the Emirates next season, which is expected to improve the atmosphere further.

Safe standing will be installed in the lower tier of the Clock End for next season and the North Bank the following year.

It means by the start of the 2027-28 season, around 13,500 of the 60,000 fans at the Emirates will be in licensed standing areas.

GUNNERS PITCH A FIT

THE pitch at the Metropolitano was a talking point all week ahead of Arsenal’s clash with .

Gunners staff were seen in talks with before the match on Wednesday, with discussions believed to be around the length of the grass.

And a stir was caused at half-time when footage went viral on social media of the pitch being watered.

Atletico Madrid risked the wrath of Mikel Arteta by only watering one end of the pitch Credit: Alamy

Videos showed the end where Arsenal were defending being heavily watered and more than the other half.

UEFA regulations contain rules around watering the surface and it remains to be seen if Atletico face any action.

UEFA regs state: “The pitch-watering schedule must be communicated by the home club at the organisational meeting.

“The pitch must be watered evenly and not only in certain areas. As a general rule, pitch watering must finish 60 minutes before kick-off.

“However, upon the decision of the home club, pitch watering may also take place after that time: between 10 and 5 minutes before kick-off; and/or during half-time, for a maximum of 5 minutes.

“The referee is entitled to request changes to the pitch-watering schedule.”

PASTURES NEW

ARSENAL WOMEN star is set to leave the club when her contract expires this summer.

McCabe, 30, is attracting plenty of interest, with and among those linked with a move for her.

But SunSport understands that there are also clubs from abroad that are tracking the left-back.

When McCabe penned her last deal with Arsenal back in 2023, there was interest from French giants .

Katie McCabe is set to leave Arsenal this summer when her contract expires Credit: Getty Beth Mead will also depart the club as a free agent Credit: Alamy

The Ireland captain is enjoying an excellent season and is not expected to be short on offers as she mulls over her next move.

Arsenal are making some big changes to their women’s squad and McCabe is one of several senior stars set to go.

Lionesses forward is out of contract and due to leave.

England captain , however, is set to stay and has signed a new contract.

FRIENDS IN KAI PLACES

KAI HAVERTZ had a frustrating afternoon against Newcastle last weekend as he limped off in the first half during Arsenal’s 1-0 win.

But the German forward made sure it was a day to remember for those visiting from Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice.

The hospice is close to the heart of Havertz and his wife, Sophia, and they donated £30,500 to it in December via their charity, Stiftung.

Kai Havertz earned credit by visiting children at a local hospice Credit: Alamy The German star and wife Sophia previously donated to the hospice and offered tickets Credit: Getty

Last Saturday, the couple invited two families from the hospice to the Emirates to watch the Newcastle game in Havertz’s box.

Those in attendance were given Arsenal shirts with Havertz’s name on the back as a gift.

They were then taken down the pitch after the game and got the chance to have photos with Havertz.

GUNNER HELP

ARSENAL fans have raised over HALF A MILLION pounds for charity in the month of April.

Gooners have opened their wallets to raise a whopping £601,886 for the Arsenal Foundation in a fan-led fundraiser.

The campaign, led by the ArsenalVision Podcast, has blown its target of £200,000 out of the water.

The money will help protect child refugees at the Za’atari refugee camp on the Syrian border.

The entirely fan-run ArsenalVision podcast has been raising funds for the Arsenal Foundation for four years now.

Over that time, they have raised well over £1.5MILLION with the help of the Arsenal fan base.