Arsenal could benefit from rule change in January transfer window after manager left furious

Arsenal will be able to use any January signings in all competitions after a big rule change that can also help players that leave

Arsenal can take advantage of a new Carabao Cup rule if any new arrivals join in the January transfer window. The Gunners face Chelsea in a semi-final first leg at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday evening before hosting their London rivals next month with the aim of reaching the final at Wembley on Sunday, March 22.

Newcastle United and Manchester City are set to contest the other semi-final with new signing for the latter Antoine Semenyo eligible despite playing for Bournemouth in an earlier round.

That is because of new EFL Rule 6.4, introduced ahead of the 2025/26 season, which allows a player to play for two different clubs in the competition and thus removing the traditional "cup-tied" restriction.

While City have taken advantage of this, there is nothing stopping the other three sides still in the Carabao Cup from doing similar.

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, who was unable to field Martin Dubravka in a previous final of this very competition, was unsurprisingly not too pleased by the change in regulations.

He said: “Yeah, it was nice to find out that rule had changed after finding out they’d signed him. I have to say that’s one rule change I probably wouldn’t be supportive of at this current moment.

"But Antoine’s had an incredible season. I’m a big admirer of his and he scored on his debut, so fair play to him. I think Man City have signed a very, very good player.”

Arsenal was an option for the 26-year-old, but only for the summer with that also seemingly the case for Marc Guehi, who sees his Crystal Palace contract expire in June.

However, if the Gunners opt to fast-track their plans for Guehi, he would be allowed to play in a potential semi-final second leg or final.

That also applies to the FA Cup after Guehi played 90 the full 90 minutes of Palace's shock third round defeat to National League North side Macclesfield.

Arsenal stars on the fringes could also benefit from that if they are moved on before the January deadline. Ethan Nwaneri is the player most likely to fall into that category with his start against Portsmouth on Sunday, his first minutes in one month and first time in an Arsenal starting XI since early November.

On the 18-year-old's display, Arteta said: "Well, that he deserves that, basically. Obviously, because of the strength of the squad and the players that are in the position, he hasn't been able to play and today he's done it. And I think he had some very good minutes."

Ben White has also been linked with a winter window move to Everton, though Arsenal have zero interest in sanctioning an exit, football.london understands.