Berta's tunnel chat with Joao Pedro fuels Arsenal transfer interest after Chelsea win

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta was caught on camera holding a conversation with Chelsea forward Joao Pedro in the tunnel at the Emirates Stadium following the Gunners’ 2-1 Premier League victory on Sunday, prompting a wave of transfer speculation among supporters.

Kai Havertz and captain Martin Odegaard scored to overturn Morgan Rogers’ opener and seal all three points for Mikel Arteta’s side. It was Rogers himself who had chosen Chelsea over Arsenal in the summer, adding an extra edge to the occasion.

Footage shared by Arsenal from inside the tunnel was quickly dissected by fans, who noticed Berta in conversation with the 24-year-old Brazilian. “Is that João Pedro talking to Andrea Berta?” one supporter asked online. “Because we definitely wouldn’t mind adding another Brazilian to this Arsenal squad.” Others were more direct: “I think Arsenal wants Joao Pedro, that’s him and Berta there.”

The interest may not be entirely new. BBC Sport had previously reported that Pedro featured on a list of around 20 potential targets Arsenal considered during the summer window, though concerns were raised about how he would fit into Arteta’s system, and Chelsea were not expected to sell him cheaply. Pedro has started the new Premier League season in sharp form, contributing two goals and two assists in three appearances.

Arsenal endured a frustrating summer on the transfer front despite securing Christos Tzolis, Ezri Konsa and Bruno Guimaraes. Beyond Rogers, Liverpool beat them to Bradley Barcola, Bournemouth refused to sell Eli Junior Kroupi — who subsequently suffered a foot injury — and Vinicius Jr opted to stay at Real Madrid after the club made their interest known. Julian Alvarez also rejected a Premier League return.

Arteta acknowledged the difficulty of the window without pointing fingers. “The outcome after can be different to what you expect but the intention is certainly there, which is in my opinion what I value the most,” he said. “It doesn’t depend on you only. Andrea is better, or Josh, to talk about that, because I am not in those negotiations.”

Whether the tunnel exchange between Berta and Pedro amounts to anything more than post-match pleasantries remains to be seen, but with Arsenal’s summer frustrations still fresh, supporters are watching every frame.