Morning, welcome to a model new week.
The Arsenal staff left London for the US yesterday, and a 26 man squad was introduced by way of the official web site. Due to the worldwide tournaments, it’s an actual mixture of senior and youthful gamers. Final 12 months there was only one younger participant with the squad, this time you’ll be able to rely 13, with some names a bit extra acquainted than others.
There’s additional room within the defensive line-up as a result of Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu each have accidents. The previous we all know from his time on the Euros, the latter is – if not fairly a shock – not one we had heard about within the build-up to the departure. I noticed James Benge report on Twitter it was a 2/3 week difficulty for Tomiyasu, so let’s hope that’s very a lot the case, and that’s all it’s.
The goalkeeping roster is especially inexperienced, with Karl Hein the senior man there … and he’s made only one first staff look for the membership. He does have 30 caps for Estonia although! Backing him up throughout the tour – as a result of David Raya and Aaron Ramsdale received’t return till the staff will get again to London – are new signings Tommy Setford and Lucas Nygaard, in addition to 18 12 months outdated Alexei Rojas. Kai Havertz, Gabriel, and Gabriel Martinelli will be part of up with the squad on the Los Angeles coaching camp from July twenty fifth, whereas Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and William Saliba are on the identical schedule because the goalkeepers.
So, it is a chance for some younger gamers to play some video games, and work alongside the primary staff proper below the nostril of the supervisor and his teaching employees. The 2 I maintain mentioning are Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly, however will probably be fascinating to see if anybody else catches the attention. The fact is that Mikel Arteta might be going to have to combine and match his staff choices, pairing enough expertise with the youth to make sure they aren’t out of their depth towards Premier League opposition.
It’s a part of the problem he faces this pre-season. Ideally he’d like the total complement of first staff gamers at his disposal to do the coaching floor work, however that is what it’s important to cope with after a match summer season, not least when a few of your gamers go the total distance. As pre-season goes on, most of those younger gamers will drop away to get replaced by returning senior gamers and – who is aware of?! – a signing or two, however for now, they’ve received an opportunity to impress within the video games towards Bournemouth, Man Utd, and Liverpool.
My understanding is that there might be a while for Arteta (and maybe Edu) to satisfy with journalists who’re occurring the tour, and little doubt there might be some questions on recruitment. I don’t suppose we’ll get an excessive amount of element concerning the plans, however there may be a bit of information there about what might occur and when. Additionally, given the make-up of the squad, and the continuing tales about gamers like Emile Smith Rowe (Crystal Palace/Fulham), Eddie Nketiah (Marseille/Palace, and Reiss Nelson (West Ham), I’d be shocked if there any important developments with them till the tour was over, however let’s see.
Proper, I’m gonna depart it there for this morning, however James and I recorded an Arsecast Additional for you final night time, discussing Smith Rowe in some element, Riccardo Calafiori, the outcry over the possible departure of a 16 12 months outdated and wider dialogue concerning the Academy, and much extra. All of the hyperlinks you’ll want to hear/subscribe are beneath.
Until tomorrow.
