Arsenal are reportedly rethinking their opposition to a contentious new Premier League financial regulation, a move that could reshape the league’s spending landscape.
According to a report from FotMob, Arsenal are now “considering a U-turn” on a contentious Premier League rule change that penalises goalkeepers for holding the ball too long.
The rule, set for the 2025/26 season, introduces an eight-second limit: if a keeper retains possession longer, the opposition is awarded a corner kick.
This amendment replaces the older six-second rule, under which infringing keepers were punished with an indirect free kick — a sanction that was rarely enforced.
The change was made to crack down on time-wasting, a persistent tactic in top-flight matches.
Arsenal’s shift in stance signals a recognition that their earlier resistance may have undermined their longer-term tactical interests.
As FotMob notes, the club’s reconsideration could stem from how the new law might actually benefit their set-piece-heavy style under Mikel Arteta — especially since more corners could play into the Gunners’ strengths.
While the rule is aimed at increasing the pace and fluidity of games, it could also reshape how teams build attacks from restarted play. Arsenal’s potential reversal underscores how even established clubs are having to adapt quickly to evolving regulations.