Gyokeres joins new Arsenal teammates, Nwaneri contract – Mikel Arteta to-do list for pre-season

Mikel Arteta will welcome back his Arsenal players for pre-season this week and even head off on another warm weather training camp too, football.london understands. Some players have spent time again in Marbella with their teammates and some of the coaches working on their fitness before official pre-season starts.

Arsenal will be welcoming in some new players to the team following some early summer signings and more expected to be on the way. Sporting director Andrea Berta is still going to be exceptionally busy and could even be sorting the futures of some players who will initially be with the group despite where they will play next season not yet being certain.

With that in mind, football.london look at what Arteta will have to focus on when his players return. Effectively the Spaniard’s to-do list, or at least a small portion of it.

Viktor Gyokeres integration

It looks as though the club are edging closer to the arrival of their fabled marquee striker signing, and it appears Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres will be that player. The Swede has played in England before but never in the Premier League.

It will be Arteta’s job to integrate Gyokeres into the side and try to maximise his potential in the team, getting him the best chances feasible with the improved players around him. Gyokeres will need to learn how his new teammates operate and how the system differs from what he is used to.

Midfield evolution

The arrival of Martin Zubimendi and the expected addition of Christian Norgaard have completely overhauled the team’s defensive midfield. With both Jorginho and Thomas Partey gone, how the deeper aspects of Arteta’s middle third of the field operate is set to change.

Both players bring progressive passing and an exciting speed of turnover from defence to attack, which is hoped will add a new edge to the Arsenal build-up. Arteta will be in charge of coaching that without one of the existing players who had been playing the role in the side.

Convincing Ethan Nwaneri

Much has been made of the future of Ethan Nwaneri. football.london is aware that the club remain calm over the 18-year-old’s future and discussions regarding his potential new deal are progressing.

However, many remain on edge and are worried he might leave. While his return has been delayed following his involvement with the under-21 England squad who were victorious at another European Championship, when he does get back Arteta will have a pivotal role to play in helping him repeat what his good friend Myles Lewis-Skelly has decided to do.