Arsenal's pre-season training trip officially began last Saturday, when the whole team flew to Singapore to launch a tour in Asia.
The Gunners will play 3 matches in this tour, ending with the first North London derby outside England, against Tottenham in Hong Kong (China) at the end of the month.
Coach Mikel Arteta led a group of 30 players in Arsenal's first trip to Southeast Asia in 7 years, marking an important preparation step for the season considered a mainstay for both him and the club.
Under Arteta, Arsenal won the FA Cup in 2020 but are still tired of looking for the next title, despite clear progress in playing style.
A positive pre-season period is expected to lift the spirits of Arsenal fans - who have waited too long to see their team truly reach the top.
The Gunners have come close to the Premier League trophy and finished second in the last three seasons many times, but the undeniable fact is that they have gone many years without a trophy.
Therefore, the 2025-2026 season is not only a decisive moment for Arteta, but also for a generation of young players entering the prime of their careers.
One of Arteta's biggest challenges is maintaining confidence in the squad, that they have yet to reach the ceiling of potential. But Arsenal cannot be a "near championship" forever when Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City and Tottenham all have their own titles.
Arsenal's biggest problem right now is their ability to score. They drew 14 Premier League games last season - only Everton have drawn 15 more ().
Their total goals are 69, far behind champions Liverpool (86), and just five more than Spurs - the 17th-placed team - exactly 5 goals. These figures make the question about Arsenal's attack even more painful.
Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting CP) - Arsenal's top target this summer - has not officially joined the Emirates. Meanwhile, Noni Madueke has a legitimate reason to rest after the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
That means Arsenal's existing strikers will have to take advantage of their trip to Asia to prove they are capable of carrying the attack next season.
The Gunners had expected Gyokeres to feature in their trip to Asia for the pre-season tour. However, as Arteta's side set off on Saturday, the Swedish striker has yet to appear, as negotiations with Sporting continue to fall into a deadlock.
In that context, attention has been turned to new signing Martin Zubimendi - who joined Real Sociedad for a fee of £51 million this summer.
Zubimendi is expected to play a pivotal role in the center of the three-man midfield, playing at the lowest level after Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard. Arsenal's midfield changes this season have been significant, after both Thomas Partey and Jorginho left as free agents at the end of last season.
