Arsenal man mirrors Bukayo Saka achievement as contract decision looms amid Mikel Merino return

The latest Arsenal news and opinion as we take a look at some of the stories doing the rounds at the Emirates Stadium over the weekend following the 4-2 win over Leicester.

It was a dramatic weekend for Arsenal as two late goals saw them eventually take advantage of Manchester City dropping points in the Premier League title race.

The Gunners went into Saturday’s home game against Leicester City as heavy favourites and went in at half time 2-0 up. What looked like was going to be a comfortable afternoon.

But the Foxes had other ideas. A James Justin double in the second half drew Steve Cooper’s side level and left Arsenal searching for the advantage again.

As the clock ticked into stoppage time it looked like it wasn’t going to come. That was until Leandro Trossard’s effort from the Gunners’ 13th corner of the game was deflected past the resilient Mads Hermansen in the Leicester goal.

That goal came in the 94th minute, with Kai Havertz putting a gloss on the result four minutes later. The result moved Arsenal level on points with Manchester City in the Premier League table.

Eyes now turn to the Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain the visitors on Tuesday night. Arsenal return to Premier League action on Saturday when they take on another newly-promoted team in Southampton.

READ MORE: Arsenal have more reason to fume after two Man United incidents during Tottenham hammering

READ MORE: PSG hit with injury crisis ahead of Arsenal Champions League clash

While preparations for those games go on, there have been stories doing the rounds on various subjects. football.london have taken a look at a couple and given our own thoughts too.

Loanee mirrors Bukayo Saka record

Arsenal loanee Nuno Tavares has mirrored an achievement reached by Bukayo Saka this weekend by claiming an assist record of his own in Serie A.

Saka provided his sixth assist in six Premier League games against Leicester on Saturday. His late corner was turned into his own net by Wilfred Ndidi to get what was a crucial stoppage time goal for Arsenal in the 4-2 win.

The Arsenal man was credited with the assist, meaning he broke Thierry Henry’s record and became the first Premier League player to provide an assist in the first six league games of the season.

Calciomercato reports that Tavares has achieved a similar feat during a loan spell with Lazio. He is said to be the first player in over 20 years to provide four assists in his first four Serie A matches, with him the provider again in the 3-2 win over Torino.

FL says: Tavares’ future looks to be away from Arsenal, but it is good news that he is impressing on loan with Lazio. After joining from Benfica in 2021, Tavares has struggled to make an impact at the Emirates Stadium. He has had two previous loan spells with Marseille and Nottingham Forest, but struggled for game time at the City Ground last year.

The loan deal has an obligation to buyfor a reported £7 million if certain sporting conditions are met. The fact that Tavares is performing well should see an increase in the chances of that being the case and Arsenal receiving a transfer windfall.

Contract decision looms

Arsenal are not showing an appetite to extend Thomas Partey’s contract this summer, according to The Mirror . The Ghanaian is out of contract next summer, meaning that he will be free to discuss his future and potentially sign a pre-contract with overseas clubs from January.

The report says that there is ‘scepticism’ over handing Partey a new contract with the midfielder being one of the club’s top earners. There is also said to be concerns over his fitness, given his absence through injury last season.

He has however started all six of Arsenal’s six games this season. The only minutes he has missed were when he was taken off with five minutes to play against Leicester at the weekend as the Gunners searched for a winning goal.

FL says: Mikel Merino’s return to fitness is likely to see Partey dropped from the starting XI despite his performances so far this season. His contract situation leaves Arsenal with a dilemma over his future.

And Partey is not the only midfielder in the situation, with Jorginho also out of contract at the Emirates Stadium in the summer. Potentially losing two midfielders on free transfers, despite them maybe not being first choice, is something that Arsenal will probably want to avoid.

Maybe offering Partey a new two-year contract on reduced terms is the way to go for the club. But if the player will accept that is another question.

Whatever way it goes, it’s a situation that Arteta would want sorting sooner rather than later.

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