HONG KONG — On Arsenal‘s first morning at their Hong Kong waterside resort — the lavish Rosewood in Victoria Dockside — workforce supervisor Mikel Arteta walked by a foyer space close to the elevators and was out of the blue confronted by at the least 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 route, 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 maximum hospitality, hyperbole and humidity it can hope serves as the precise precursor to what may 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 forward 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.
– Ready to go: Gyökeres unfazed by Arsenal pressure, taking Henry’s No. 14
– What we’re hearing in the transfer window: Arsenal still open to Eze deal; Man Utd striker search latest
– Why everyone is talking 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 identify 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 subsequently take as a praise.
Ten months to understand their desires now lie forward. Here is what ESPN discovered from spending time with the workforce 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 resort 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 as a consequence of a surprising rainstorm — typical within the area — that left Arteta dealing with the media round lunchtime, not sure whether or not the workforce 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 equipment launch befell 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 urged 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 ‘lots to be taught’ 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 aim celebration. Sources instructed ESPN that experiences on social media suggesting a deal had been finalized within the days earlier than the sport have been in reality untimely; even Friday night native time, senior Arsenal executives have 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 imagine him to be each bit the highest govt they hoped that they had 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. Nonetheless, govt vice chair Tim Lewis and Garlick met with Berta together with different candidates earlier than Berta later met with Arteta — and at last, 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 have been already impressed together with his physique of labor.
Berta has been left to guide negotiations in lots of situations this summer time and usually experiences again to the membership’s key decision-makers. Sources mentioned the Italian’s clear and common communication has been one other welcome attribute.
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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 high 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 possibility. Sources mentioned Arsenal thought of Alexander Isak at Newcastle, however harbored a number of doubts a couple of deal. Not solely did they imagine Newcastle have been extraordinarily unlikely to let him go away, however whether or not his health file urged that he could possibly 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 yr. Nonetheless, preliminary talks urged a deal could be costly for a participant of Sesko’s largely untapped potential. Figures quoted for the switch charge and private phrases set off alarm bells, partly due to the doable draw back threat 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 aim file for Sporting — 97 in 102 video games — plus a robust conviction in his power of character satisfied them he was the person for the job.
After a €63 million deal (plus €10m in add-ons) was finally completed, Berta arrived with Gyökeres in Singapore for his or her second sport of the tour, a 3-2 win over Newcastle, the place they have been greeted from the automotive by Lewis, who had solely simply flown in himself, and Garlick. Followers have 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 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 rapidly as doable.
Fashion of play and robustness
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Will Viktor Gyökeres carry Arsenal to the Premier League title?
Steve Nicol and Alejandro Moreno focus on 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 precise flank; Martin Ødegaard was reinvigorated by that conduit thriving. Cynics would argue there was a slight lack of efficiency towards Spurs, as was usually evident within the 2024-25 marketing campaign, however probably the most fascinating improvement was an elevated directness in Arsenal’s play.
Sources mentioned there’s an acknowledgment internally that the Gunners must adapt their fashion to get the very best from Gyökeres. He isn’t a participant who’s at his greatest coming deep to hyperlink the play in the best way that Kai Havertz, for instance, can. As a substitute, sources mentioned, Gyökeres shall be anticipated to play to his strengths between the middle backs, operating in behind as a lot as doable. Sources mentioned this would possibly not essentially imply extra long-ball soccer, simply extra of an emphasis on getting it ahead faster.
There’s additionally a recognition that poor participant availability value Arsenal dearly final season. An intensive evaluation has included coaching plans and, significantly, workloads after gamers return from worldwide obligation. Sources mentioned, for instance, that the membership recognized that Gabriel Magalhães‘ damage towards 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 velocity Arsenal’s inner information says he reached for the primary time in two months.
Sources mentioned the membership’s summer time switch coverage has been considerably influenced by discovering gamers with a great observe file in availability. Arteta revealed he had successfully deserted his tiered system of rating gamers by the amount of matches they needed to play. Nonetheless, a by line throughout all their signings this summer time 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 all the way 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 skill to take the preseason video games in his stride, making a notable cameo in all three video games. Dowman received the penalty that determined the sport towards 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 all the things in place to thrive on the highest stage.
Nonetheless, 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 have the ability to conclusively reply whether or not Dowman, Marli Salmon or any of the opposite younger prospects but have our bodies in a position to face up to the influence of a robust sort out within the males’s sport.
Sources mentioned Arteta is subsequently inherently susceptible to defending Dowman, a midfielder with a capability to take gamers on and subsequently more likely to get tackled, even on the threat of taking criticism from supporters who will wish to see him play extra usually. Time will inform whether or not his expertise proves too nice to withstand.
Sources additionally instructed ESPN that the membership is impressed with the help community Dowman has round him, and that there are plans to supply him a deal across the flip of the yr, maybe in January.
Arteta’s seek for stability
Arteta is notoriously meticulous and intense in his work, which may be a part of the rationale he has struck up a direct rapport with Berta. Nonetheless, sources mentioned Arteta is extra decided today to remind himself to take pleasure from the work he’s doing. There’s, maybe, someplace in there an acknowledgment that his depth must be nuanced.
For instance, sources mentioned Noni Madueke provided to satisfy up with the Arsenal squad instantly for his or her Asia tour regardless of profitable the Membership World Cup with Chelsea in america only a few days earlier than his €52 million swap. Arteta was initially eager on the concept however then acknowledged the necessity for the participant to take a vacation and benefit from the victory he had simply secured.
It has, nevertheless, at instances been tough to reconcile that seek for stability 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 should be ready for something — no matter comes across the nook.