Mikel Arteta will hope to learn a lot about his squad over the next few weeks, but some players will be under brighter spotlights than others
Arsenal kicked off their pre-season schedule with two 1-1 draws last week, against Watford and Nurnberg respectively, with Brazilian forward Marquinhos and Bukayo Saka both on the scoresheet. Both results won't have been of much concern to Arteta, who was mainly assessing his options and taking a closer look at some of his younger players looking to make an impact.
Kai Havertz made his debut for the Gunners at the Max-Morlock-Stadion, and he is the first of several new faces to have already arrived at the Emirates Stadium this summer as Arsenal aim to keep progressing after their runners' up finish in the Premier League.
A British record deal for Declan Rice was completed over the weekend, along with the £40m ($51m) capture of Ajax defender Jurrien Timber, while the Gunners have also been strongly linked with Southampton's Romeo Lavia and Real Valladolid defender Ivan Fresneda.
But there are also several members of Arteta's pre-existing group who will have points to prove over the next few weeks. Some are playing for their futures and others will be out to defy their critics, with a view to giving Arteta a selection dilemma when Arsenal's 2023-24 Premier League opener rolls around in August…
(C)Getty ImagesKai Havertz
Arsenal's decision to invest so much money in Havertz has raised a few eyebrows, not least because three years on from his initial arrival in the Premier League, it's still unclear what his best position is. The German became a Champions League winner at Chelsea, and recorded 32 goals and 15 assists across 139 games for the club in all competitions, but never delivered the goods on a consistent basis.
Havertz was also among the Blues' worst performers during a disastrous 2022-23 campaign, and the club's willingness to sell him to a direct rival speaks volumes. Still, Arteta believes he can unlock the 24-year-old's full potential, and it will certainly be fascinating to see how he fits into Arsenal's lineup.
It seems most logical for him to be used as a direct replacement for Granit Xhaka on the left of the Gunners' midfield three, but Arteta will have the chance to try him in several different positions during pre-season. Havertz will need to hit the ground running, though, or else critics of his move across London will start sharpening their knives once again.
Advertisement(C)GettyImagesFolarin Balogun
Balogun has been one of the most talked about footballers on the planet over the last few months, and for good reason. He started banging in the goals almost instantly after joining Reims on loan from Arsenal, which sparked a drawn-out international allegiance tug-of-war between the United States and England.
The 22-year-old ended up choosing the USMNT, and he now has another big decision to make on his future at club level. The likes of Juventus, Milan, Inter, Marseille and RB Leipzig have been linked with moves for Balogun, who has made it clear that he "definitely won't go on loan again".
Much could depend on how well the young forward plays during Arsenal's upcoming run of friendlies, which will be his final chance to convince Arteta that he deserves a place in his starting XI. If Balogun lights up the Gunners' pre-season, there will be no reason for him to leave or for the club to sell him – but he will need to outshine his main competitor for a No.9 berth, Gabriel Jesus.
(C)Getty ImagesTakehiro Tomiyasu
Tomiyasu is a useful asset for Arsenal, as he proved once again last season. The two-footed Japan international can play on both sides of the defence, he's cool and calm on the ball under pressure, and he can break the lines effectively with his passing and dribbling ability.
But he missed the backend of last season through injury, and will surely now have a tough time getting back into the team in his preferred right-back spot. Ben White remains first choice there for now, but Timber will push hard to replace him, and Tomiyasu is destined to slide further down the pecking order.
Oleksandr Zinchenko and Kieran Tierney could still be usurped on the left, but it will be essential for Tomiyasu to prove his fitness in the next few weeks. If he lags behind after his injury lay-off, the 2023-24 campaign could prove to be a very long one for the versatile Japanese defender.
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GettyEmile Smith Rowe
There's no way of sugar-coating it; the 2022-23 season was a complete disaster for Smith Rowe. He missed the start of the campaign after undergoing groin surgery, and didn't return to the pitch until January.
Smith Rowe was then reduced to a bench role, and finished the season without a single start to his name, leading to huge question marks over his future at the Emirates. But the 22-year-old may just have earned himself a lifeline with his superb performances for England at the U21 European Championships.
The Young Lions stormed to their first Euros triumph in 39 years in Georgia, and Smith Rowe played a key role during his six appearances while chipping in with two goals and an assist. He's currently taking a deserved break, but it will be crucial for him to transfer that form to Arsenal when he returns and show that he still has plenty to offer Arteta.