Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta
Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal are set to kick off their preparations for the 2025/26 season with a five-day pre-season training camp in La Manga, Murcia, Spain, according to reports fromAFC Fixture News.
The first-team squad will travel to the sun-drenched Spanish resort in July following an initial regrouping at their Sobha Realty Training Centre in London Colney. The trip marks the beginning of a crucial pre-season for Mikel Arteta’s side, who are eager to finally convert promise into silverware after finishing as Premier League runners-up for the third consecutive season and reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2024/25.
The La Manga camp will be held behind closed doors, with no public fixtures scheduled. The focus will be on fitness, tactical work, and team bonding, reflecting Arteta’s continued emphasis on building unity and sharpness ahead of a demanding campaign.
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Interestingly, the training retreat follows a player-led push for an early start to pre-season. Senior members of the squad reportedly advocated for an intensive camp to gain a competitive edge heading into a season in which expectations are higher than ever.
The Arsenal first team will be heading out to La Manga as part of pre-season training, and not prior to the players returning to London Colney as previously thought.
The camp is for 5 days, with no public matches taking place. pic.twitter.com/jNShtkEXeK
— Arsenal Fixture News (@AFCFixtureNews) June 23, 2025
La Manga Club, nestled between the Mar Menor and Calblanque Regional Park, is a world-renowned sports and leisure complex boasting eight natural grass pitches and elite training facilities. The resort has previously hosted Arsenal’s academy teams, with the U21s and U18s playing friendlies at the nearby Pinatar Arena in 2023. Its private, tranquil setting and warm climate make it an ideal location for focused preparation away from media distractions.
The trip comes at a pivotal juncture for Arsenal, with Arteta entering his fifth full season at the helm and the club determined to end their long wait for a major trophy. It also continues the model of recent years, following a successful pre-season trip to Marbella in 2024 where players not involved in Euro 2024 began early preparations.
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Speaking about the players’ mindset, Arteta recently praised their proactive attitude: “The players are demanding it. Nowadays, it’s impossible to have four, five, six weeks on your sunbed, putting sun cream [on] and just ordering drinks.”
While the La Manga trip will remain low-profile, Arsenal’s pre-season schedule will intensify soon after. The Gunners will embark on a high-profile tour of Asia beginning July 19, highlighted by a blockbuster clash with Tottenham Hotspur in Singapore. They will then return to North London to host a series of friendlies at the Emirates Stadium, following the template set last summer with matches against Bayer Leverkusen and Lyon.
Initially, it was thought that the La Manga training camp would precede Arsenal’s return to London Colney, but plans have since been adjusted. The team will now first reassemble at their home base before heading to Spain, ensuring a more structured transition into full pre-season mode.
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