Arsenal’s players will return to this club next week as pre-season officially starts ahead of the 2025/26 season.
The squad will report for training on Monday where they will be assessed by the Gunners coaching staff. The majority have played for their countries and gone on holidays since Arsenal’s last game on May 25 but all attention will now be on getting in the best possible shape ahead of the Premier League opener against Manchester united on August 17.
A trip to La Manga in Spain is on the cards in the next couple of weeks before the squad fly out to Asia on July 19 for the club’s pre-season tour of Asia. Fixtures against AC Milan, Newcastle and Tottenham have been pencilled in and it’s possible new signing Kepa Arrizabalaga makes his debut in one of these games.
The 30-year-old goalkeeper joined from Chelsea for a £5million fee earlier this week and will challenge David Raya for the No.1 jersey. More signings are expected between now and when the window closes on September 1 and it’s possible a handful of deals are announced this weekend.
Soccerhuz.com understands Martin Zubimendi’s move from Real Sociedad is essentially done and just needs to be announced. The defensive midfielder will add additional quality to the Gunners midfield, with sporting director Andrea Berta agreeing to pay more than the Spaniard’s £51million release clause so the payments can be spread out.
Another midfielder who could arrive is Christian Norgaard. Arsenal remain in the advanced stages of securing a deal with Brentford for the Denmark international, with a fee of around £15million including add-ons reportedly agreed.
Brentford director of football Phil Giles confirmed at the start of this week that the deal is close to being completed. “We have been in conversations with Arsenal for the last week to 10 days – as it stands it hasn’t been completed yet but it is heading in that direction,” Giles told BBC Sport.
“If that happens for him then fantastic, he’s earned it. He’s been a brilliant captain for us. Let’s see how that story ends but we are pretty open about that interest there.”
A third deal – and what would be the biggest of the summer for Arsenal – that could be thrashed out in the coming days is one for a striker. Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres have been linked with a move to Emirates Stadium for the last few months but, as of yet, no deal has been agreed.
Sesko is hugely admired by the north Londoners, football.london understands, but a deal has proven difficult to agree thus far. Reports in Portugal suggest a move for Gyokeres has advanced in recent days, although a lot depends on Sporting CP and their asking price. Many expect one of Sesko or Gyokeres to be wearing an Arsenal shirt next campaign, but exactly who and when a deal will be announced remains to be seen.
Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera is said to be keen to move to the Gunners this summer, too, with Berta already seeing an initial offer rejected by the Spanish side. It’s believed another bid will be made in the near future, with the 21-year-old rejecting an improved contract offer from Valencia as he has his heart set on a move to north London.
