Mikel Arteta will put the Arsenal players through their paces in pre-season training as he gears up for a Premier League title defence and Champions League assualt.
16:16, 23 Jun 2026
Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta during the Arsenal training session at Sobha Realty Training Centre on May 09, 2026 in London Colney, England
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Mikel Arteta at the Sobha Realty Training Centre(Image: Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Mikel Arteta could have as many as 12 players at his disposal when he first walks through the doors of the Sobha Realty Training Centre next month. Arsenal will soon begin preparations for the new season as they look to defend the Premier League title and finally lift the Champions League.
Last season, the Gunners were just minutes away from winning Europe's top-flight competition for the first time in their history, but they stumbled at the final hurdle, losing to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties. The defeat to Luis Enrique's side left the Arsenal boss yearning for more silverware.
Speaking to reporters after the game, Arteta immediately explained what he and Andrea Berta need to do to take the Gunners to 'another level'. The Spaniard said: "First of all, I will take a few days with my family, and then we will start the process to review what we have done.
"We will have to start making some very important decisions if we want to reach another level. We are going to have to show that ambition because we are more than capable of doing it, but it is going to demand us to be very ambitious, very fast and very smart."
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If Berta is to significantly bolster the Arsenal squad this summer, he'll need to offload a few players to raise funds. Before the Gunners race into any agreements, Arteta will have the chance to work closely with some big names who could be fighting for a future in north London.
From the English contingent at Arsenal, only Ben White, who's currently nursing an injury, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Max Dowman were left out of Thomas Tuchel's squad for the World Cup. At the start of pre-season, they'll be joined by Ethan Nwaneri and Reiss Nelson, whose loan spells at Marseille and Brentford, respectively, have expired.
Arteta looks set to be short on first-team forwards, with only Gabriel Jesus expected to be available on July 1. The 29-year-old striker will have entered the final year of his contract by then, so he'll be fighting for a future in north London.
As will Christian Nørgaard, who also has just 12 months left on his deal despite only swapping the Gtech Community Stadium for the Emirates last year. The 32-year-old midfielder featured 20 times across all competitions for Arsenal last term, but he only had about 1,000 minutes of action.
The Gunners boss will have the chance to work closely with Riccardo Calafiori and Cristhian Mosquera. When fit, the former was one of the first names on the teamsheet last season, so he'll be looking to steer clear of any more knocks and niggles.
Jurrien Timber could be available, too, despite dropping out of the Netherlands squad ahead of the World Cup due to a groin injury. The 25-year-old defender was in a race against time to make Ronald Koeman's side, but lost.
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Arteta will, at least, have a senior goalkeeper between the sticks: Kepa Arrizabalaga. He'll likely be joined by Tommy Setford, who could very well replace him as the understudy to David Raya!
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