As International football is coming to an end, the focus gets into club football for the upcoming season. After a disappointing campaign last term, Mikel Arteta has something to prove this season at Arsenal as a manager. Gunners could not qualify for Europe and finished at eighth in the Premier League standings. That is not what the fans expect and want a response. There is a positive news as Gunners first-team players will join pre-season training as early as 7th July. Most of them will be present and six are likely to miss out. Granit Xhaka, Bukayo Saka, Kieran Tierney and Bernd Leno will report later due to their involvement in the ongoing European Championships.

There are speculations around Granit Xhaka’s Arsenal future as the 28-year-old is expected to leave the Emirates this summer. Roma, Juventus and Paris Saint Germain are the clubs who are looking to sign the box to box midfielder. Bukayo Saka, who is involved with the England team in the Euros can play in the final. Because of that, Saka may not join the squad for training until August. The Euro 2020 ending on 11th July. Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhaes will join Brazil’s Olympic squad ahead of the football competition in Tokyo from July 22.

When is Arsenal’s first pre-season game?

Arsenal kicked off their pre-season campaign in Scotland against Hibernian today, in a game in which they lost 2-1.

Arsenal’s pre-season schedule-

July

7th – Pre-season begins
12th – Edinburgh training camp begins
13th – Hibernian (A) (Lost 2-1)
16th – Edinburgh training camp ends
17th – Rangers (A)
21st – Florida training camp begins
25th – Inter Milan (N)
28th – Everton/Millonarios (N)
29th – Florida training camp ends

August

1st – Chelsea (H)
6th – Possible Emirates Cup match
8th – Tottenham Hotspur (A)
14th – Premier League season begins

Arsenal Youth Pre-Season Fixtures

July

20th – Welling United (A)
24th – Boreham Wood (A)
30th – Hendon FC (A)

Arteta should be very much up for it and take the pre-season seriously to the build-up for the next campaign. In Arteta’s words, Arsenal should be challenging for trophies and they need to improve. Few new signings are expected at the Emirates to shape up the squad a little more. The club is still sticking with their project with Arteta and trusting him to bring success to the club. The Spanish coach guided Arsenal to win the FA Cup and the Community shield in the last two seasons.

What Mikel Arteta said about the Arsenal transfers this summer?

“Well, they arere going to get better, that is for sure. They are going to strengthen and we need to do better ourselves as well. First of all, what we have to do is with our players. We have to get them better and more consistent. Need to help them to improve for our way of playing.”

“Our philosophy I think is in place. Now is the moment to take it to the next level. Improve that and improve our consistency. This is because we have shown it since December until now. We have been the second or the third-best team in the league. It is not enough to show it for six months. The level is so high and we have to do that for ten months.”