Arsenal’s preparations for the 2025/26 season are officially underway, with the majority of the first team squad now back at London Colney following their summer holidays.
While several players have already spent time training with Mikel Arteta in Spain, this week marked the first opportunity for new signings Kepa Arrizabalaga and Martin Zubimendi to be integrated into the wider group.
The squad were put through their paces by the strength and conditioning staff in the gym before heading out onto the grass, where Arteta and new assistant coach Gabriel Heinze oversaw the session.
One notable inclusion was Max Dowman, who doesn’t turn 16 until December. The highly-rated midfielder has been handed the number 56 shirt and appears to have been elevated to the senior setup. Arteta has already hinted Dowman will be part of the travelling party for the upcoming tour of Singapore and Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, Albert Sambi Lokonga has returned to training wearing the number 28 shirt, having lost his old 23 to Mikel Merino while out on loan at Sevilla. Despite being expected to leave in the coming weeks, the Belgian posted a positive message on Instagram about being back at the club.
Eight players were not pictured during the session and are assumed to be absent for various reasons. That group includes goalkeepers David Raya and Karl Hein, the injured trio of Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Jesus, and Reiss Nelson, as well as Fabio Vieira and Ethan Nwaneri, who are enjoying well-earned breaks following their involvement at the Club World Cup and UEFA Under-21 Euros, respectively.
With the Gunners not due to fly to Asia for another 10 days, there’s a good chance a behind-closed-doors friendly could be arranged over the weekend or early next week.
There’s also time to make progress on the recruitment front. Christian Norgaard’s arrival from Brentford should be announced by the end of play on Friday. He was pictured at the training ground yesterday, and Andrea Berta is pushing hard to complete deals for Chelsea’s Noni Madueke and Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres.