Arsenal files: Weights session in Ipswich’s TUNNEL, David Haye at Hale End and Gunners ace in Irish tug-of-war

ARSENAL geared up for their trip to Brighton this weekend with a post-match workout after beating Ipswich. The Gunners won 4-2 at Portman Road on Tuesday night to book a spot in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup. Mikel Arteta ensured his Arsenal team were prepared for their Brighton clash after beating Ipswich on Tuesday Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Arsenal’s players were put through their paces by fitness coaches in the tunnel at full time Credit: Reuters And after the game, the players were put through their paces by fitness coaches before heading back to London. Several members of the squad, especially those who had limited minutes, did a mini workout in the corridor outside the dressing room. Sign up for the Arsenal newsletter Thank you! The players did a number of exercises, including squats on a weighted platform that they were attached to via a belt. Arsenal have revamped their medical department over the summer and brought in a number of new faces. Strength and conditioning coach Yeray Abreu Martinez has joined, as has fitness coach Jose Jimenez. Arnaldo Abrantes is the new club doctor, joining from Aston Villa, and Eneko Angulo is working as a rehabilitation specialist. Players often do extra work after games, but this is usually running drills. That was the case when Arsenal beat Napoli earlier this month. Most read in Sport BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK BRIGHT START ARSENAL could equal a 123-year record if they are able to beat Brighton this weekend, following their sensational start to the season. The Gunners have won their first seven games in all competitions to start the season, meaning they are just one victory off repeating their longest winning streak at the start of a campaign. Arsenal’s last electric start of this magnitude came about in the 1903/04 season, back when the club was called ‘Woolwich Arsenal’ and were based in South-East London. That team managed eight wins on the bounce to start their season and the record has stood for the past 123 years. But if Mikel Arteta can guide his side to victory at the Amex on Saturday, the current crop will etch their names in club history alongside the players from all those years ago. Arsenal have already been equalling records with their football this season. Their victory over Sunderland last weekend equalled the seven consecutive wins registered by Arsene Wenger’s star-studded 2004/05 squad following their Invincible season the year prior. PL-AYE MAKER BOXING legend David Haye was at Hale End last week watching his son in action. Haye’s youngest son, Kingston, is part of the Arsenal academy after signing on as an 11-year-old last year. Kingston, now 12, joined the Gunners from Sutton after impressing scouts and earning a switch to the top-flight academy. His technical ability, vision and ball control have earned him a reputation as a highly-promising talent, which led to his move to North London. Kingston isn’t the only one of Haye’s kids to impress in sport, with his older brother Cassius, 18, previously making waves on the Spanish junior tennis circuit. Boxing legend David Haye was at Arsenal’s Hale End academy last week Credit: David Fisher Haye’s son Kingston is part of Arsenal’s youth set-up Credit: instagram PLENTY OF IRE CEADACH O’NEILL is caught in an international tug-of-war after being called up to the Northern Irish national team for their upcoming Nations League fixtures. O’Neill is wanted by both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland after impressing in the Arsenal youth setup. The 18-year-old made his senior bow for Northern Ireland in May, featuring off the bench in friendlies against both Guinea and France. And he has now been named in manager Michael O’Neill’s squad for Northern Ireland’s upcoming Nations League clashes against Georgia, Hungary and Ukraine. Despite playing two senior games, O’Neill is still eligible to switch to the Republic of Ireland so long as he does not play more than three times at senior level for Northern Ireland. That has seen the FAI approach the Arsenal youngster about a potential allegiance switch, a move which has irked Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill. The international manager said: “I try not to pay too much attention to it. My focus is on the player, and I have a duty of care to the player as his international manager, as we have as an association as well. “(Ceadach) has been in our pathway since he was a young boy. He’s been part of our academy. He’s obviously had an approach from another association, which happens. “He doesn’t have a bloodline there, but obviously the rules permit them to make that approach. “The thing that upsets me the most in this is that putting a young player in a position to make an international transfer before he’s been a professional for even two years is, I think, not the right thing. It’s not something that any association should be doing.” Despite the dramatic back and forth, it appears that Ceadach O’Neill’s future will be tied to Northern Ireland given his selection for the upcoming international break. The young attacker is highly-rated at Arsenal and despite not making his official senior debut for the Gunners, he impressed against Girona, Real Betis and Borussia Dortmund in pre-season. Ceadach O’Neill has found himself in an international tug-of-war after impressing for Arsenal Credit: Getty PHILL YOUR BOOTS TEEN star Charlie Phillips travelled with the Arsenal squad for their Carabao Cup clash at Ipswich. The goalkeeper, who does not turn 16 until this weekend, has been tipped for a big future. Arsenal have high hopes for him and gave him some first-team experience this week by taking him along to Portman Road. Phillips was Arsenal’s third goalkeeper on Tuesday night, warming up with Kepa Arrizabalaga and Illan Meslier, before sitting by the bench with the squad for the match. The youngster’s father, former Millwall defender Mark Phillips, was in attendance in the stands at Portman Road. Phillips, who also helped Brentford win League Two in 2009, expressed his delight with a post on social media. He tweeted: “So proud to see my son named in the Arsenal first-team squad for tonight’s game aged 15.” Phillips is still a schoolboy and is not due to sign scholarship terms with the Gunners until next summer. He will be able to pen his first professional contract this time next year, once 17 years old. MER TO IT MIKEL MERINO has revealed the special meaning behind his celebration after scoring against Ipswich. The Spaniard made a tick sign above the Arsenal badge after bagging their fourth goal in the 4-2 win at Portman Road. And the midfielder has explained how it was inspired after an interview that he had last week. Merino spoke to TNT Sports as part of their ‘Sign Up – Into Football’ initiative, which is a new TV programme aimed at raising the profile of the deaf community and raising the visibility of British Sign Language. Merino said: “I had an interview with some people that were deaf and they told me some sign language. “I asked them: ‘What can I do the next time I score a goal?’ They told me this one, as it means ‘I love Arsenal’. “And I only had to score and do the celebration – so there you go Gunners.” Charlie Phillips travelled with the Arsenal squad to Portman Road on Tuesday Credit: Getty Mikel Merino used BSL to sign ‘I love Arsenal’ as his celebration against Ipswich Town Credit: Getty Comment now