Over the last few days, the final five Arsenal internationals have returned to London Colney to begin their pre-season preparations.
David Raya was first back, arriving at the Sobha Realty Training Centre on Friday, and Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Aaron Ramsdale, and William Saliba all followed over the weekend.
All five were right on schedule, with Mikel Arteta having confirmed earlier in the week that they’d be back in training by Sunday.
The Gunners had plenty of players involved in summer internationals at Euro 2024 and Copa America, and those players needed a bit of extra time off before linking back up with their club teammates.
Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Kai Havertz all returned the week before last, and the final group are now back as well.
The Euros final took place on July 14th, so the standard three weeks off meant all five were free to return over the weekend.
Arsenal are back in London preparing for a friendly against Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday, August 7th.
The Gunners then have one more game against Lyon on Sunday, August 11th, before the competitive action kicks off with a game against Wolves next Saturday, August 17th.
It’s encouraging that Rice, Saka, Ramsdale, Raya, and Saliba should be able to get minutes in one or two games before the new campaign kicks off, given four of them are likely starters for Arteta in 2024/25.