London Colney played host to the first formal pre-season session today with first team stars joined by a number of Academy prospects.
Per Mertesacker, Jack Wilshere, Mathieu Debuchy, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Nacho Monreal, Mathieu Flamini, Gabriel and Hector Bellerin all feature in snaps taken by club photographer Stuart MacFarlane.
Youngsters Dan Crowley, Gedion Zelalem, Chuba Akpom and Chris Willock were also put through their paces by fitness coaches Shad Forsythe and Tony Colbert. Returning loanees Jon Toral, Yaya Sanogo and Wellington Silva also took part, as did 17-year-old new signing Jeff Reine-Adelaide.
Wellington secured a Spanish passport in April making him eligible to play in England for the first time since he joined Arsenal in 2011. The Brazilian attacking midfielder, who spent last season at Almeria, wore the number 46 shirt.
Interestingly it looks as though Bellerin has inherited the 24 shirt recently vacated by Abou Diaby. Last year the Spaniard wore 39. Chuba Akpom’s squad number appears to have changed from 38 to 31.
There’s not much more to report other than the training pitches look lush and green, Arsene Wenger was smiling and the new Puma clobber looks swish.
The rest of the first team are expected to filter back in drips and drabs over the course of the next few weeks. The players who featured in Euro 2016 qualifiers at the end of the season should be back next, followed by Copa America duo David Ospina and Alexis.
Joel Campbell will likely be the latest returnee – if he comes back at all – as he’s on Costa Rica international duty at the Gold Cup.
why don’t I see headlines ‘Joel Campbell likely to miss start of season.’
This is an outrage. The media is so biased.
If anyone fails to get there- I was just kidding.
He’s got out while he still could…
… temporarily.
I’m excited!
Same, also dont know if im reading too much into it, but no ones been ‘promoted’ to podolskis old no.9 so maybe a new striker on the way…
Can anyone explain to me why wilshere is back in training but the likes of ozil, giroud etc (also involved in June internationals) are not?
Wilshere played about 4 games this season and only just returned to fitness so makes sense for him to keep that fitness as he doesn’t need the extra rest
I’m guessing because he missed most the season and as such didn’t need all that rest.
Ye I think you’re spot on, realised that after I posted the comment. Cheers
He’s been talking to Alexis.
Andre Mariner better hope that Wellington never makes it at Arsenal. If he struggled between Gibbs and the Ox, then he’d be in real trouble with this lad!
I hope Wellington gets a chance in the Emirates cup & really impresses, have a wager with a mate from 5 years ago that he would an Arsenal great.
Really can’t afford to lose the £20 bet
Well…. you only technically lose your bet once the lad retires, which gives you a minimum of 10 years of not worrying about paying it back!
Slightly like the Hugo to Gibbs’ Bart isn’t he..
Any idea when Alexis might be back in training/first team squad?
I’m not sure Alexis ever stops training…
He’s just about to hit the Carribbean having passed through the Panama Canal in his kayak. He’ll be in Southampton by Friday, assuming he doesn’t hit any really bad weather in the Atlantic. If so, lunchtime Saturday.
Cracked me up! 😀
If they superglue a football to the front of his kayak then he’ll be back by Thursday!
Wilson?
HAHA *100 … 🙂
Probably tomorrow, knowing Alexis.
Hoping Alexis gets off till deep into August to be honest.
I’m sure he will be getting off, have you seen those Chilean reef girls? oh mama.
arsenal likely to give Alexis a full 4 weeks off, which would mean him returning on August 3rd
i think depending on how we start, Wenger will try and give him a “full pre-season”. i suspect he’ll start giving him some minutes off the bench from somewhere around the Liverpool or Newcastle games. I would rather he had some rest now and missed the first few games but its up to the rest of the team to fill the gap
Cech missed his first day…
Homer Simpson style – someone will cover for him
arsenalblog
I stared at the picture for a minute thinking Gibbs looks very different when he’s smiling and quite a bit shorter than Bellerin all of a sudden. Then I came to the realization that my one minute was up and went back to Everton like the cunt I am.
welcome back pals
Welbeck?
Still recovering from wireless finsbury park.
Keen to see how Wellington performs in our team in the preseason.
If it’s anything like the ‘YouTube hype’, we’ll have an genuine winger (as opposed to converted central midfielders and forwards – well performing ones, just not in their natural positions).
Lets hope Wenger isn’t afraid to stick the boot in…
or sell it
Ox is a genuine winger too.
Also, Silva is very similar to Ox.
Anyone notice its just Wellington silva’s number printed on the right side of the shirt? Perhaps a mistake from arsenal’s part? #wengerout
Crowley has a number on the same side. A reserve thing?
If Bellerin was part of the Fabregas deal as claimed in some quarters, then that was one brilliant piece of business by the Arsenal Team. What a gem!
Nobody ells see the worry in Bellerin taking on the number 24? Debuchy in Diaby’s old number 2 brought about the most injury filled season ever for Debuchy and now the other right back is taking on the other number “cursed” by Diaby 😉
Don’t start that!
Avengers assemble when the big lads come back?
Arsevengers Assemble
Arsevengers Arsemble surely?
3 to watch : Akpom. This lad is gunning for a spot. Gnabry. Has to be wary of above and not take things for granted. Both may be replaced fro market as well as Wenger may yet decide to reinforce from market in the attacking line regardless of Walcott’s ‘situation’. And Campbell. Needs to have a very strong pre-season showing. Both Gnabry and Akpom could threaten to be the next Bellerin but Campbell should not be discounted and could do a Coquelin. Remember Francis did not have that convincing a loan spell the season before and many (MOST) penned that… Read more »
Bellerin and Coquelin were the beneficiaries of long term injuries to Debuchy and Arteta where Campbell (if we don’t sell him), Akpom, Gnabry and Sanogo will need to see a number of players injured in front of them to get the opportunities that Bellerin and Coquelin had last year regardless of how strong they look in training and preseason matches. We are already at least two to three deep in the wings and striker positions where those four play before they are even considered. It’s unfortunate as there is some real potential in the group, but just don’t see any… Read more »
I agree. Any of those 3 could be in the managers thoughts once the season starts. Who would have imagined Le Coq as a 1st team regular 1 year ago?!?!!?!
Arsenal has invested a lot into the likes of Sanogo, Campbell, and Akpom, so it is just up to them to grab their chance now. Wenger may want to wait late into the window for any attacking signing, just to give his promising reserve talents a chance this pre-season.
The other players to look for will be Calum who has yet to settle in a preferred position. He has the composure to fill at Cback but will now be behind Gabriel in pecking order and the settled pairing of Perscielny Calum is nominally a Rback and may yet come back to the position in a couple of seasons down. How Arsene decides to deploy/develop him this coming season will be of good interest. He has also spoken of him in midfield but if a specialist comes in at DM/CM, this will be a bit of over population. Also Wellington… Read more »
“Get out while you can, Joel…” 😉
I think wenger should buy a DM as cover/competition for Coquelin as injuries at Arsenal are unpredictable
Has anyone heard any news about Jon toral? He’s training with the squad but he hasn’t been picked for the tour. I love him and bellerin and want them both to do well!