HONG KONG — On Arsenal’s first morning at their Hong Kong waterside lodge — the lavish Rosewood in Victoria Dockside — group supervisor Mikel Arteta walked by way of a foyer space close to the elevators and was instantly confronted by a minimum of 50 autograph hunters who had edged nearer to the inside sanctum than workers had deliberate. Arteta known as for calm, signing a couple of shirts desperately flung in his course, earlier than safety intervened and order was restored.
As metaphors go, it was on level: He’d higher get used to surprises coming across the nook.
It was additionally an instance of the depth that has outlined the membership’s preseason journey to Asia, a mixture of utmost hospitality, hyperbole and humidity it’s going to hope serves as the correct precursor to what is likely to be probably the most scrutinized and high-pressure season but for Arteta and his gamers. They’ve been Premier League runners-up previously three seasons. The look ahead to silverware is now 5 years. And the membership’s messaging throughout this tour has centered on “reaching new heights.”
Taking that actually, there is just one place to go.
– Able to go: Gyökeres unfazed by Arsenal stress, taking Henry’s No. 14
– What we’re listening to within the switch window: Arsenal nonetheless open to Eze deal; Man Utd striker search newest
– Why everyone seems to be speaking about Arsenal’s Max Dowman, 15
Arsenal have spent greater than £200 million on six new signings, together with the middle ahead so many followers have craved for years. Viktor Gyökeres threatened to overshadow this tour till he joined it, rising the thrill amongst followers to the purpose the place his title was cheered the loudest on the Kai Tak Stadium when Arsenal performed Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday.
Expectations are excessive. Arteta is already rebranding “stress” as perception, claiming those that say Arsenal ought to win the league this season achieve this out of an accompanying admission that they’re certainly ok to do it, one thing his gamers ought to due to this fact take as a praise.
Ten months to understand their desires now lie forward. This is what ESPN realized from spending time with the group in Singapore and Hong Kong because it gears up for the problem.
Arrival in Singapore
Shortly after arriving in Singapore, Arteta and managing director Richard Garlick addressed gamers and workers at their lodge on Sentosa Island, sources instructed ESPN. These with information of the gathering described the takeaway theme in a single phrase: vitality. Sources mentioned that phrase was used repeatedly throughout a chat centered on gathering themselves for the season forward.
Their resolve was instantly examined. Arsenal’s first coaching session was postponed attributable to a surprising rainstorm — typical within the area — that left Arteta dealing with the media round lunchtime, uncertain whether or not the group may rearrange one thing for later within the day. It will definitely did, however on the expense of pushing again varied industrial commitments in an already packed schedule. That mentioned, the membership’s away package launch happened that night as deliberate, with Mikel Merino, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Martín Zubimendi and Riccardo Calafiori making an look alongside actor Will Poulter.
The gamers educated on the Nationwide Stadium beneath the roof. A number of sources advised they discovered the humidity stifling in each classes, though Declan Rice later mentioned, “The humidity helps get the health up so I am actually having fun with it.”
The Gyökeres impact — and Berta
2:07
Arsenal with ‘so much to study’ following Spurs defeat
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta displays on his facet’s 1-0 defeat to Tottenham in Hong Kong.
Arsenal beat AC Milan 1-0 of their first tour match on July 23, however as the principle Singapore Nationwide Stadium digicam singled out Arsenal followers within the crowd, many used the chance to imitate Gyökeres’ masked purpose celebration. Sources instructed ESPN that reviews on social media suggesting a deal had been finalized within the days earlier than the sport had been actually untimely; even Friday night native time, senior Arsenal executives had been nonetheless involved in regards to the remaining factors of the deal being agreed upon after prolonged negotiations with Sporting CP.
Sources mentioned Sporting had proved tough negotiators, however Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta confirmed his worth in getting it over the road. Berta has impressed Arsenal’s key decision-makers, who consider him to be each bit the highest govt they hoped they’d landed after Edu Gaspar’s abrupt departure in November.
Sources mentioned that some at Arsenal believed Berta was unattainable, given his longstanding connection to Atletico Madrid. Nevertheless, govt vice chair Tim Lewis and Garlick met with Berta together with different candidates earlier than Berta later met with Arteta — and eventually, Josh Kroenke — to make sure the membership’s proprietor, Kroenke Sports activities Enterprises, had due enter. Some senior figures on the membership joke that Berta by no means appears to sleep — his work ethic has shocked even those that had been already impressed together with his physique of labor.
Berta has been left to steer negotiations in lots of cases this summer season and repeatedly reviews again to the membership’s key decision-makers. Sources mentioned the Italian’s clear and common communication has been one other welcome attribute.
1:05
Arteta: Gyökeres is aware of what the No. 14 shirt means to Arsenal
Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta believes new signing Viktor Gyökeres understands the significance of the quantity 14 shirt to the membership.
Arteta, Lewis and Garlick — together with the reappointed director of soccer operations, James King — had settled on the necessity to add extra scoring energy on the prime finish of the pitch throughout their November assembly with the membership’s homeowners in Los Angeles, earlier than Berta’s arrival, however the Italian had an energetic enter into figuring out the popular choice. Sources mentioned Arsenal thought of Alexander Isak at Newcastle, however harbored a number of doubts a couple of deal. Not solely did they consider Newcastle had been extraordinarily unlikely to let him go away, however whether or not his health file advised that he might be relied upon each week as a £100 million-plus signing would should be.
The Gunners carried out detailed background work on Benjamin Sesko at RB Leipzig for nicely over a 12 months. Nevertheless, preliminary talks advised a deal can be costly for a participant of Sesko’s largely untapped potential. Figures quoted for the switch price and private phrases set off alarm bells, partially due to the doable draw back danger if he proved an unsuccessful signing.
Sources mentioned the membership was additionally aware in regards to the psychological calls for of main Arsenal’s line and the scrutiny on the place. Gyökeres’ beautiful purpose file for Sporting — 97 in 102 video games — plus a powerful conviction in his energy of character satisfied them he was the person for the job.
After a €63 million deal (plus €10m in add-ons) was lastly accomplished, Berta arrived with Gyökeres in Singapore for his or her second sport of the tour, a 3-2 win over Newcastle, the place they had been greeted from the automobile by Lewis, who had solely simply flown in himself, and Garlick. Followers had been instructed to be of their seats for Gyökeres’ official unveiling at 7:15 p.m. — quarter-hour earlier than the scheduled kickoff time — and though the striker was a bit of sheepish when the second got here, it was a helpful introduction to the elevated scrutiny he’s now dealing with.
Arsenal had initially hoped to have Gyökeres on their preseason tour from the outset earlier than talks slowed with Sporting. Their want to have him with the group in Singapore on Sunday night, regardless of then making a four-hour journey to Hong Kong on Tuesday, underlined Arteta’s want to start his integration as shortly as doable.
Fashion of play and robustness
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Will Viktor Gyökeres elevate Arsenal to the Premier League title?
Steve Nicol and Alejandro Moreno talk about Viktor Gyökeres’ switch to Arsenal.
There have been some acquainted patterns in Arsenal’s play throughout their three matches in Hong Kong, even of their 1-0 loss to Tottenham within the remaining sport of the tour.
Ben White and Bukayo Saka mixed nicely down the correct flank; Martin Ødegaard was reinvigorated by that conduit thriving. Cynics would argue there was a slight lack of efficiency in opposition to Spurs, as was typically evident within the 2024-25 marketing campaign, however probably the most attention-grabbing growth was an elevated directness in Arsenal’s play.
Sources mentioned there may be an acknowledgment internally that the Gunners must adapt their fashion to get the very best from Gyökeres. He’s not a participant who’s at his greatest coming deep to hyperlink the play in the way in which that Kai Havertz, for instance, can. As a substitute, sources mentioned, Gyökeres will likely be anticipated to play to his strengths between the middle backs, operating in behind as a lot as doable. Sources mentioned this may not essentially imply extra long-ball soccer, simply extra of an emphasis on getting it ahead faster.
There may be additionally a recognition that poor participant availability value Arsenal dearly final season. An intensive assessment has included coaching plans and, significantly, workloads after gamers return from worldwide obligation. Sources mentioned, for instance, that the membership recognized that Gabriel Magalhães’ harm in opposition to Fulham in April — a hamstring drawback picked up within the first 16 minutes of the sport — got here after he was away on worldwide obligation and sprinting at a pace Arsenal’s inner information says he reached for the primary time in two months.
Sources mentioned the membership’s summer season switch coverage has been considerably influenced by discovering gamers with a great monitor file in availability. Arteta revealed he had successfully deserted his tiered system of rating gamers by the quantity of matches they needed to play. However, a by way of line throughout all their signings this summer season has been the pursuit of gamers who’re not often injured. Sources mentioned there’s nonetheless an acknowledgment that a few of that is purely right down to luck regardless of how meticulous the planning.
Dowman proves the youngsters are all proper
Arsenal face a tough balancing act with 15-year-old winger Max Dowman. Sources mentioned he shocked senior figures on the membership together with his capability to take the preseason video games in his stride, making a notable cameo in all three video games. Dowman gained the penalty that determined the sport in opposition to Newcastle, whereas Tottenham appeared to double up on him as they protected their slender benefit at Kai Tak. His prodigious expertise has the fan base extraordinarily excited, and sources mentioned Dowman seems to have every part in place to thrive on the highest stage.
Nevertheless, he’s a younger teenager not but allowed to signal knowledgeable contract and even change together with his first-team colleagues. Sources mentioned the membership are additionally aware that he’s, to place it merely, a rising boy. No quantity of inner information will be capable to conclusively reply whether or not Dowman, Marli Salmon or any of the opposite younger prospects but have our bodies in a position to stand up to the affect of a powerful sort out within the males’s sport.
Sources mentioned Arteta is due to this fact inherently vulnerable to defending Dowman, a midfielder with a capability to take gamers on and due to this fact prone to get tackled, even on the danger of taking criticism from supporters who will wish to see him play extra typically. Time will inform whether or not his expertise proves too nice to withstand.
Sources additionally instructed ESPN that the membership is impressed with the assist community Dowman has round him, and that there are plans to supply him a deal across the flip of the 12 months, maybe in January.
Arteta’s seek for steadiness
Arteta is notoriously meticulous and intense in his work, which is likely to be a part of the explanation he has struck up a direct rapport with Berta. Nevertheless, sources mentioned Arteta is extra decided nowadays to remind himself to take pleasure from the work he’s doing. There may be, maybe, someplace in there an acknowledgment that his depth must be nuanced.
For instance, sources mentioned Noni Madueke supplied to fulfill up with the Arsenal squad instantly for his or her Asia tour regardless of profitable the Membership World Cup with Chelsea in the USA only a few days earlier than his €52 million swap. Arteta was initially eager on the thought however then acknowledged the necessity for the participant to take a vacation and benefit from the victory he had simply secured.
It has, nonetheless, at occasions been tough to reconcile that seek for steadiness with what the bare eye noticed. The membership’s two open coaching classes on the tour noticed Arteta play a extremely energetic function, bodily pushing gamers round and becoming a member of within the classes himself.
Then once more, he is aware of he have to be ready for something — no matter comes across the nook.