Football London Icon
Arsenal
Arsenal News
Arsenal transfer news## Arsenal returned for pre-season and their first round of images published by the club have given some insights into the status of many players at the club
16:39, 21 Jul 2026
Arsenal have returned for pre-season officially in a limited capacity this week. The Gunners welcomed back those players not involved in the World Cup and will wait over the next few weeks to see the others finish their holidays.
Players have been given a three-week break, minimum, before being expected back. But for now, Mikel Arteta is starting work on helping his Arsenal side prepare to defend their Premier League title.
The club have revealed the latest images of the players returning and the initial sessions with the squad. football.london has taken a deep dive into the snaps and broken down what they tell us about what’s going on behind the scenes at the Sobha Realty Training Centre.
FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! Latest Gunners news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page
Changes behind the scenes
Despite the transfers not necessarily moving at the pace many would like to see, Illan Meslier is a new player and was indeed spotted with the group at the training ground.
However, there is a much lesser-publicised inclusion in the group in the form of Arnaldo Abrantes. Leaving Aston Villa as their medical lead, he has joined Arsenal, replacing Zafa Iqbal, who was reportedly let go by the club at the end of the previous season.
Arsenal have suffered from persistent injury problems, and several other changes have occurred, which the new appointments are hoped to address.
Surplus to requirements
Many players who might not yet be part of the Premier League squad for the new season have also been pictured with the side. Fabio Vieira and Reiss Nelson spent last season on loan and are not believed to be part of Arteta’s plans for the new campaign.
However, so far there has not been major movement or interest known in either and so an exit is not close as things stand. Whether they take part in any of the pre-season friendlies remains to be seen. While Gabriel Jesus and Ethan Nwaneri were another pair who have both been linked with exits away from the club.
Article continues below
Injury statuses revealed
Ben White and Jurrien Timber both returned but in different capacities. While Timber was not involved in the outside training session, working inside following a small operation understood to have taken place on his groin problem around a month ago, White is much healthier.
“Knee’s all good,” he said in a comment to a video posted by Arsenal on their social feeds. While Timber admitted he hoped to be back soon.
Choose Football London as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.
Google Preferred Source Badge
Arsenal training
Arsenal transfer news
Ben White
Jurrien Timber