Pre-season training is already underway for Arsenal's youngsters and next week will see the senior players begin to filter back.
Although, with European Championship and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in addition to UEFA and CONCACAF Nations League, and friendly matches taking place in the middle of June, it means there will be a lack of senior members present for the Gunners at London Colney on the very first day.
This would explain the likely absences of Aaron Ramsdale, Matt Turner, Kieran Tierney, Jakub Kiwior, Thomas Partey, Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Jorginho, new signing Kai Havertz and Granit Xhaka whilst Emile Smith Rowe is in European U21 Championships action - against Nuno Tavares - later today (Sunday).
Furthermore, if Arsenal were to complete the signings of Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber, for example, they too would need extra time off after representing England and the Netherlands respectively so therefore it's unlikely that either player would be present for the first day of pre-season training if they do join.
In terms of senior players that are likely to be present for the first day of pre-season training, it will be those who weren't called up for international duty. At the time of writing, this includes Benjamin White, Gabriel Magalhaes, Rob Holding, Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah, Leandro Trossard and Reiss Nelson - as long as he signs a new deal - as they have been on holiday since the final game of last season.
As revealed by football.london, Gabriel Martinelli, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Mohamed Elneny and Oleksandr Zinchenko are expected to be ready for pre-season after missing the end of last season and there's a chance they will be joined by William Saliba who has been sidelined since March with a back injury and Fabio Vieira after he was pulled from the Portugal U21 squad.
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Meanwhile, since Arthur Okonkwo, Cedric Soares, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Marquinhos did not secure permanent moves away following loan spells last season they are set to be present in training next week and the same applies to Nicolas Pepe who has already confirmed his imminent return after a mixed spell in France with Nice.
"I will return to Arsenal. I was loaned without an option to buy so I have to go back to Arsenal," he told YouTube channel Colinterview, as per the Metro. "I don’t know [about my future] yet. When I get back, I’ll speak with the coach and everyone and see what everyone’s ideas are and then we’ll make a decision."
Other members of last season's loan army such as Tavares, Runar Alex Runarsson, Folarin Balogun and Auston Trusty have had international commitments in the past few weeks so that would explain any absences, whilst Mikel Arteta can call up a number of academy players such as Amario Cozier-Duberry, Mauro Bandeira and Ethan Nwaneri to boost the numbers in training.
Arsenal's pre-season schedule includes games against FC Nurnberg, an MLS all-stars team, Manchester United and Barcelona as part of the USA tour before returning to London to face Monaco in the Emirates Cup before facing Manchester City at Wembley in the Community Shield on August 6.
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