Arsenal are returning for pre-season preparations this month later than their Premier League rivals after extended campaign
06:00, 07 Jul 2026
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will welcome back his Premier League winning side for pre-season this month
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will welcome back his Premier League winning side for pre-season this month(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal are set to return for their pre-season preparations in the middle of this month, football.london understands. Several players not involved in the World Cup, or those who have not been granted an extended break, will meet back up with the club.
There have been changes while they have been away, particularly in the medical and strength and conditioning departments. Zafa Iqbal, Sam Wilson and Tom Allen have all left the club for a variety of reasons, while new appointments have been made.
The likes of Myles Lewis-Skelly, Cristhian Mosquera, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Riccardo Calafiori, Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman will be back at the Sobha Realty Training Centre. Preparations will begin ahead of a five-match official pre-season schedule.
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On August 1, the team will fly to Spain to face Girona before then departing the next day to Dublin ahead of a friendly with Real Betis on August 5. They will play two friendlies at the Emirates Stadium against Borussia Dortmund and Como on August 9 and 12, respectively.
Then they face Manchester City in the FA Community Shield on August 16. football.london understands that Arsenal could yet play some matches behind closed doors before they fly to Spain at the start of next month.
Tottenham, by comparison, return from their break on Friday, July 10. This is about a week earlier than their North London rivals.
The explanation behind Arsenal’s delayed return is a simple one. With the participation in the UEFA Champions League final, the Gunners’ season was extended by an additional week compared to the majority of other teams.
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Crystal Palace are in a similar position after playing the UEFA Conference League final on Wednesday between the Premier League conclusion and the Champions League final. Arsenal’s players will have a slightly shortened pre-season, but players returning from the World Cup will see their summer preparations cut even shorter, with all players required to take a minimum of three weeks off before returning to their respective clubs.