Arsenal eye Como playmaker who tore Man United apart

October 23, 2026Jed Dogomeo

Arsenal are among the clubs watching Nico Paz closely after the Argentine inspired Como to a 4-1 thrashing of Manchester United in midweek, with the Gunners reportedly weighing up a move for one of European football's most exciting young midfielders.

Paz left Real Madrid for Como and played a central role in the Italian side's rise last season, helping them qualify for the Champions League ahead of established names like AC Milan and Juventus. His technical quality, creativity and growing influence in midfield have made him a wanted man across the continent.

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His latest standout display came against Manchester United, where Como ran out 4-1 winners in a result that marked a heavy European defeat for the Red Devils. Paz was at the heart of the performance, further boosting his reputation as a player capable of delivering on the big stage.

Arsenal and Chelsea both keen

Despite interest from several bigger clubs over the summer, Paz chose to stay at Como in order to keep playing regularly rather than risk reduced minutes elsewhere. He has since become one of the first names on the team sheet under Cesc Fabregas, with the manager's trust helping accelerate his development.

According to Fichajes, Arsenal are keen on signing Paz, though they are not alone in the race. Chelsea are also reportedly monitoring the midfielder and working to get ahead of Arsenal in any future pursuit.

Fichajes is a Spanish outlet whose transfer reporting is generally treated with some caution compared to tier one journalists, so the story should be viewed as speculative interest rather than confirmed interest at this stage.

Como face a battle to keep hold of him

For now, Paz remains settled at Como, benefiting from regular football and a prominent role in Fabregas' side. But his rising profile means the club could find it increasingly difficult to resist offers if interest from major European sides intensifies in future windows.

Any move to Arsenal or Chelsea would represent a significant step up for the 22 year old, and he would need to weigh up whether he could guarantee similar playing time at a bigger club compared to his current situation at Como.

With his stock continuing to rise, Paz's long term future is likely to remain a talking point as the north London side and others continue to run the rule over him ahead of future transfer windows.