Pre-season 24/25

Panda

Some of the boys are back...

The fixtures
July 24: Arsenal vs Bournemouth - Dignity, Health Sports Park, Los Angeles kick-off 7.30pm local time (3.30am July 25 UK time)
July 27: Arsenal vs Man Utd - SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, kick-off 5pm local time (1am July 28 UK time)
July 31: Arsenal vs Liverpool - Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, kick-off 7.30pm local time (12.30am August 1 UK time)
August 7: Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen, Emirates Stadium, kick-off 6pm
August 11: Arsenal vs Lyon, Emirates Stadium, kick-off 2pm

TambourineMan

Hope we have Saliba, Saka and Rice back for the Emirates Cup and then ready for the start of the season.

But I reckon we might have to do without them for the first couple of weeks and we need to be ready to accommodate for that.

banduan

can't believe we're this close to pre-season already. I guess Euros helped.

goon

My enthusiasm for this pre-season just isn’t there. Maybe it’s the lack of signings x knowing half our guys are going to be missing/knackered.

For once I actually feel like we need a bigger break before the football is back!

Qwiss

goon that and the lack of excitement of seeing youngsters because we know they wont break into the squad anyway.

Burnwinter

Lack of signings for sure. I'm only really interested in how good some of last season's underperformers are looking plus the new players at this point. If Calafiori signs and makes it to the US it'll be more worth it.

Don Pacifico

Plus the fact that most of the matches are against teams we play in the regular season. Give me a Burgenland XI, Malaysia All Stars or even a Barnet over playing bloody Bournemouth.

est

In the interview posted on Arsenal social media Arteta looks to have aged 10 years since the end of the season. Looked the same for 30 odd years and then such a sudden drop. Weird.

Clrnc

est that run in was no joke.

Burnwinter

He's just in bad light. Man will have plenty of wrinkles in ten years, it's not like he avoids the sun. The apparent wear and tear is accentuated by the care he takes with his brows and so on ... Lego man has a hangover.

lorddulaarsenal

He’s put on some weight and is going grey. I recon he’ll get in shape as training starts up and he’ll start to look more like he did

Qwiss

lorddulaarsenal is he giving up the dye? His beards been grey for ages but the hair remained jet black.

Asterix

Qwiss my beard went grey many many years before my head starting turning grey. Ageing isn't linear; it's step changes.

RocktheCasbah

Never mind grey, I think 5 years trying to keep you lot happy would have turned me bald!

😁

MistaT

I’m oddly more excited by preseason to see some youngsters than our initial month or two. Little burned out on footy as there’s just too much of it these days.And that fatigue is magnified by not enjoying our play style as much these days, so really just invested for the result(s).

lorddulaarsenal

Jesus looks to be in good condition. Be great if we can see the best version of him this season

CPM

It will help so much if we can get closer to 22-23 form from Jesus, Martinelli, and Partey, especially in the early parts of the season. Most bullish on Martinelli bouncing back. Jesus as CF/RW depth will need to have his spells of contribution.

lorddulaarsenal

I’m quietly optimistic about Vieira. Showed glimpses of real promise in the little time we saw him. He can be a real creative force

CPM

Worrying reports that the coaches were disappointed with his level in training in the spring though.

Burnwinter

Jesus: can be superb as a starter or substitute if he accepts rotation with serenity and is able to stay sharp. His wages and injuries will mean little prospect of recouping a fee on him.

Martinelli: nothing has changed with his ability or effort. It's dependent on our tactics, Havertz, Rice and whoever plays left back whether he regains confidence and end product. Stretch goal to actually improve on some of his limitations.

Vieira: don't kid yourself. He's got bags of ability and will occasionally score or assist a pearler. He's just too small and inconsistent in his application and aggression to star(t) for us.

banduan

What's the plan with this lad now

Burnwinter

banduan I'd say Arteta's training him to defend against cavalry with a bayonet there

Pepe LeFrits

banduan What's the plan with this lad now

I do wonder if part of the reason our midfield transfer rumours seem so quiet is that Arteta believes either or both Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri are into LANS territory and will get meaningful minutes next season.