Half a dozen Arsenal players have begun their pre-season with manager Mikel Arteta three weeks early in a bid to boost their title challenge. Ben White, Eddie Nketiah, Jurrien Timber, Reiss Nelson, Emile Smith Rowe, and Fabio Vieira joined Arteta in Marbella on Monday to work on their fitness and form.
For Timber and Vieira, the mini camp will offer a chance to build fitness after an injury-plagued 2023-24 season, particularly for Timber, who suffered a major knee injury on his Premier League debut in August. Timber’s versatility in defense was missed by Arteta last season, and the Dutch international will be out to carve a role for himself in the Arsenal XI. The left-back berth, which was a problem for the Gunners last season, is there to be claimed in the weeks ahead even as sporting director Edu, who will also fly out to Marbella for the camp, scours the transfer market.
Meanwhile, the Hale End triumvirate of Nelson, Smith Rowe, and Nketiah have begun their preparations for 2024-25 at a time when their futures are in doubt. All three have been linked with moves away from the club in recent weeks.
Speaking exclusively to CaughtOffside, the Arsenal expert journalist Charles Watts explained that Smith Rowe has interest from clubs in England, Germany, and Italy, but that talks are ongoing to work out his future.
Fulham has been named as a specific possible destination for Smith Rowe, and Watts says he could see that being a good fit for him, though nothing has been decided just yet. The England international has shone for Arsenal when he’s managed to get playing time, but he’s had fewer and fewer chances over the last couple of years, so it makes sense that he’s considering his future this summer.
Emile Smith Rowe has been reduced to a bit-part role under Mikel Arteta, but it seems he is determined to stay and fight for his place at Arsenal. The 23-year-old made just three starts last season as the Gunners once again fell short in the Premier League title race. It has been rumored that Smith Rowe could leave Arsenal this summer in search of regular playing time elsewhere. The likes of Fulham and West Ham have been linked with his services and would be able to offer him a more prominent role in their squads.
There are surely clubs out there who could give Smith Rowe more opportunities to start games on a regular basis, so it will be interesting to see the outcome of the ongoing discussions over his future, and surely Arteta and Edu will be having face to face discussions with Smith Rowe, Nelson and Nketiah about their immediate futures. It could be an interesting summer for all three, one way or another….
Jack Anderson
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What is atreta arteta doing talking to nketià and Smith Rowe….and even reiss Nelson whom he doesn’t play….
Nketia is hopeles at any top club……… a mid to lower table team will suit him……of the reiss Nelson is the only one has a chance of being a good impact sub….the other are done out here
If the trio of Nelson, ESR and Nkethia leave Arsenal this summer. As they ought to leave the club for obvious reasons.
3 more vacant spaces in addition to the 2 that was last vacant.
When Cedric Soares and Mo Elneny left the club at the end of last season will be become available for 5 new entrants to come in.
And hopefully from the the Gooners’ observation view that is currently trending. Those new entrants who Arsenal will sign. Will includes Marc Guehi, Nico Williams or Eberechi Eze, Amadou Onana and of course Victor Gyokeres.
I hope your wish comes true with all those new entries
What an intense dream
Do you seriously think we will sign all those 5 players !!
Ben White was mentioned in this report too but with no mention as to why he has gone on the training camp That makes me suspicious. The others mentioned were mentioned for good reason. I wouldn’t have thought that White had fitness or form worries