Compared to recent years, Arsenal’s summer looks relatively quiet. So far they only have three games lined up across the next two months before the Premier League gets under way again.
They are yet to confirm whether the Emirates Cup will return as a final curtain raiser in north London, whilst there is no planned trip to Nurnberg ahead of a pre-season tour either.Last year, when there was a major tournament to factor in, Arsenal played five matches between July 25 and August 11. They were split between America and then N5 with players joining up irregularly due to involvement at the European Championship in Germany.
In 2023, when Arsenal signed Declan Rice and Kai Havertz, they were not as pushed for time and went to Nurnberg for initial preparations after a brief training camp at London Colney. That year, when they really kicked on from surprise title challenges to genuine contenders, there were five matches across three countries as well as a behind-closed-doors game and Community Shield.
Unlike rivals Manchester City and Chelsea, Arsenal do not have to worry about the Club World Cup ruining plans either. They have had players on international duty in this awkward in-between period since the season ended almost a month ago, but there is room for a break.
FIFA rules dictate that players are entitled to three weeks of uninterrupted rest. Arsenal can still afford that without infringing on their pre-season, whereas some at the Club World Cup will struggle. When adding in the recent World Cup qualifiers and friendlies, it is nightmarish.
