Arsenal's pre-season is set to be disrupted by this summer's World Cup
11:43, 08 Jul 2026
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta during the training session at the Sobha Realty Training Centre.
View 2 Images
Arsenal's pre-season could be impacted by players participation at the World Cup.(Image: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire)
Arsenal may be forced to make some changes to their starting XI for pre-season and potentially the early part of the new Premier League season due to the World Cup. The tournament is now at the quarter-final stage with 10 Arsenal players still involved.
Key members of Mikel Arteta’s squad are still over in North America. David Raya, Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi are all representing Spain, and will take on Leandro Trossard ’s Belgium in their quarter-final on Friday night (8pm).
Saturday night’s quarter-final between Norway and England (10pm) will see Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard come up against Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze. William Saliba will be the first Gunners’ player in quarter-final action when France play Morocco on Friday night (9pm).
FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! Latest Gunners news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page
It means that at least two players will return from the tournament over the weekend, but they won’t necessarily be available as early as some of those who didn’t play in the World Cup, or who were knocked out at earlier stages.
As reported by football.london, Arsenal start their pre-season preparations later this month. While other teams are starting to return to training, the Gunners have an extra week due to their participation in the Champions League final at the end of last season.
While those not involved in the World Cup will return, players still at the tournament will be given an extended break, with those reaching the latter stages expected to be back later than those who have already returned.
Arsenal take on Girona (August 1), Real Betis (August 5), Borussia Dortmund (August 9) and Como (August 12) in pre-season friendlies, before facing Manchester City in the FA Community Shield on August 16. The late return of players means that the starting line-up for the games could look slightly different.
It could give potential new goalkeeper Illan Meslier a chance to make his first appearance for the team. The former Leeds man looks set to sign on a free transfer .
Illan Meslier during the warm up prior to the Sky Bet Championship match between Oxford United FC and Leeds United FC.
View 2 Images
Illan Meslier looks set to join Arsenal.(Image: Cameron Howard/Getty Images)
With Raya still at the World Cup, and Kepa Arrizabalaga looking set to move on, Meslier could be thrown straight into the team in pre-season.
The rest periods could also give Max Dowman and Myles Lewis-Skelly a chance to stake a claim for a regular place in the starting XI. Lewis-Skelly could again be deployed in midfield alongside Christian Norgaard, with Dowman starting on the right of midfield.
With no recognised right-back available, Mikel Arteta is likely to have to turn to Cristian Mosquera in the position, with Piero Hincapie alongside Gabriel in defence.
Gabriel, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli and Viktor Gyokeres have all also been involved in the World Cup, meaning that they will also be given an extended break. But their exits mean that they should be back for most of pre-season.
Pre-season preparations will be building up to the Premier League season opener against newly-promoted Coventry City at the Emirates Stadium on Friday, 21 August (8pm kick-off). Arteta will be hoping that the late arrivals will not impact his team selection for that game.
Potential Arsenal XI : Meslier; Mosquera, Gabriel, Hincapie, Calafiori; Norgaard, Lewis-Skelly; Dowman, Havertz, Martinelli; Gyokeres
Arsenal players still at the World Cup
David Raya, Mikel Merino, Martin Zubimendi (Spain)
Martin Odegaard (Norway)
Leandro Trossard (Belgium)
William Saliba (France)
Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka (England)
Article continues below
Thousands of Arsenal fans upgraded their matchday last season. This is how they did it.
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Content Image
Various Prices
Seat Unique
Buy official packages at Seat Unique
Official premium experiences at the Emirates are available now for the 26/27 Premier League season. Make it easier than ever to turn a regular fixture into something genuinely unforgettable.