Arsenal’s pre-season reshuffle as 10 World Cup stars face delay

The Emirates training ground is eerily quiet this July. With the club’s World Cup last-16 players now all out of action, Arsenal face a summer of uncertainty as 10 participants are set to miss the start of pre-season. Only Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhaes are already eliminated alongside Brazil, while William Saliba and France advanced to the quarter-finals with a 1-0 victory over Paraguay. Martin Odegaard and Norway progressed after Brazil’s exit, adding to the list of Arsenal stars whose return remains uncertain. Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, Declan Rice, and Noni Madueke reached the last eight with England’s 3-2 win over Mexico. Rice and Saka were instrumental in the opening goal, but their pre-season availability is now in doubt. Mikel Merino’s goal secured Spain’s quarter-final place, taking David Raya and Martin Zubimendi with him.

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Leandro Trossard provided an assist as Belgium defeated the United States, completing the set of Arsenal players who made the quarter-finals. All ten are expected to miss the start of pre-season, disrupting Mikel Arteta’s preparations. France play their quarter-final on July 9th, but even a defeat would see Saliba return no earlier than July 31st, the day before Arsenal’s first friendly. Players receive at least three weeks off, and Saliba’s injury adds further delay. Pre-season will begin earlier, allowing some players limited sessions before the opening game. The other nine Arsenal internationals face quarter-finals on July 10th and 11th, leaving even less time before Arsenal’s friendlies. The congestion intensifies for those who progress, as semi-finals and finals follow for any remaining Arsenal players. Spain’s clash with Belgium and Norway’s match against England ensure at least two Arsenal stars remain at the World Cup until the final weekend. That number could rise if France, Spain, or England advance further. Meanwhile, players not called up or already eliminated are likely to feature in the entirety of pre-season. Arteta will have a significantly reshaped squad for the early weeks, with key absentees including Magalhaes, Martinelli, Saliba, Odegaard, Saka, Rice, Eze, Madueke, Merino, Raya, Zubimendi, and Trossard.