Unai Emery took charge of his first training session as Arsenal coach on Tuesday as the Gunners started work on their preseason preparations.
Most of Arsenal’s non-World Cup players were back at London Colney as Emery began the process of putting his stamp on the team following Arsene Wenger’s departure.
The likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Aaron Ramsey, Alexandre Lacazette and Shkodran Mustafi all took part in fitness tests indoors as well as an outdoors session on the pitch.
Only eight of last season’s first-team regulars travelled to the World Cup — along with loanee Joel Campbell and new signing Stephan Lichtsteiner — meaning Emery has a majority of his squad available right away.
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Forward Lucas Perez was also expected back this week after spending last season on loan at Deportivo La Coruna, with the Spaniard’s future still undetermined under Emery.
The early sessions will also be a chance for some of the squad’s fringe players to impress the new boss. Perez, striker Chuba Akpom, defender Carl Jenkinson and midfielder Jeff Reine-Adelaide spent last season out on loan but will be hoping to stake a claim for a spot in Emery’s final squad for the new campaign.
The first couple of weeks are expected to be dominated by fitness work before an Arsenal XI plays Boreham Wood on July 14. They then travel to Singapore for two International Champions Cup matches against Atletico Madrid on July 26 and Paris Saint-German on July 28.
The World Cup contingent, including Germany’s Mesut Ozil, are expected to join up after that trip.
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