Mikel Arteta has a lengthy to-do list for this summer’s pre-season with Arsenal with several big decisions to be made
Mikel Arteta has already linked up with several of his squad this week as he undertakes the preparations before pre-season. He and a select number of the Arsenal squad are again in Marbella before the team returns on Monday for the official start to pre-season, football.london understands.
So far, the club has not been wildly active in the summer transfer window, with just Piero Hincapie and Illan Meslier confirmed to have been signed permanently. Although the agreement with Club Brugge to sign Christos Tzolis will see a third new arrival brought in.
But there is far more going on at the club this summer. With a new Academy Director, new members of the backroom staff and medical team and news that Juliet Slot, the club’s Chief Commercial Officer, is stepping down, Arteta has a lengthy to-do list for everything he needs to be focused on.
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Integrate the new signings
That said, the first thing will naturally be to welcome the new players into the group. Meslier has been with the club now for just over a week, and his arrival is thought to be one which allows Tommy Setford, the current third-choice stopper, to go out on loan.
Tzolis will replace the now-departed Leandro Trossard, and the Greek international will have to get up to speed with the Premier League level after smashing in the goals during his time in Belgium. While any further signings that arrive could be delayed if they have been involved at the World Cup, Arteta is tasked with working out the best preparations for these staggered returns of so many players.
Make the call on Nwaneri
One player who has returned after his holidays and short spell with the England senior team before the World Cup is Ethan Nwaneri. Much is unknown about what the summer holds for the youngster, but as football.london understands his brother, Emerson Nwaneri, is expected to sign scholarship terms for Arsenal, this could point toward a change of situation for Ethan.
The loan spell with Marseille last season was not a massive success, and Nwaneri was even called out publicly for a lack of application by head coach Habib Beye. Whether another loan is the chosen route forward or if Arteta wishes to find a place for Nwaneri in this season’s team remains to be seen.
DEFCON One
It could be a difficult start to the season for Arsenal with several of their major stars facing fitness and injury-related concerns. William Saliba has a reported serious back issue, which forced him off in France’s semi-final against Spain, which French media is reporting is likely to require surgery.
Meanwhile, both Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka have been suffering from issues throughout the summer; the latter was unable to take part in England’s semi-final clash against Argentina. It is not beyond the realms of possibility that both players miss the start of the season, and therefore, this pre-season will be about finding the short-term solutions to all three potential absentees.
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