Online Reporter
MIKEL ARTETA suffered more than a few gut punches watching his Arsenal stars at the World Cup.
So, it was only fitting that the tournament ended with Mikel Merino sporting a juicy shiner under his eye. Arsenal players arrived in the US running on fumes, and many have left looking like the walking wounded.
No more so is that the case than with Declan Rice, whose gruelling season is finally over.
The midfielder ended up playing 5,482 minutes across 69 games for club and country.
If anyone needs a holiday, it is Rice – but he is not alone. Bukayo Saka has been troubled by an Achilles issue for months, while William Saliba’s back injury may require surgery after flaring up in France’s semi-final defeat.
Even the World Cup final would have had Arteta wincing, if he were not already hiding behind the sofa. Merino caught a thunderous Lionel Messi shot straight to the face and uploaded a photo from the Spain dressing room afterwards to show off the damage.
The fact that the midfielder was icing his eye with a bottle of beer suggests he will be fine – and there will be a few sighs of relief among Arsenal’s medical staff.
It is their job now to manage the return of the club’s World Cup stars, who are due at least three weeks off. Arsenal had 15 players at the tournament – including the now departed Leandro Trossard – with eight making it all the way to the final weekend. In total, those from Arteta’s squad clocked up 4,224 pitch minutes during their time in North America.
Among Premier League clubs, only Manchester City players (5,925 minutes) had a higher total.
The situation is a headache for Arteta as it comes off the back of a season where Arsenal played 63 games. That campaign did not finish until May 30 and two days later Gunners players were jetting off to the World Cup.
They now finish the tournament with the sobering thought that the Premier League restarts in 30 days.
Arsenal go into the new season as the reigning champions but also sweating on the fitness of key trio Rice, Saka and Saliba.
The club expected many of their players would go deep at the World Cup, which is why pre-season has been tweaked.
There was a mini training camp in Marbella last week but the official start was Monday to reflect how late Arsenal finished last season.
A far-flung tour across the globe was also turned down and instead things will be more low-key.
They are having a training camp in Spain and will play their first friendly of pre-season in Girona on August 1. Four days later, they will face Real Betis in Dublin before heading back home to London.
A pair of friendlies at the Emirates complete the prep ahead of the Community Shield on August 16 against Manchester City in Cardiff.
Arsenal will hope this is a campaign where their injury record improves after making changes to the medical department.
Club doctor Zafar Iqbal and head of sports science and performance Tom Allen have both left.
Sam Wilson, lead physical performance coach, has also departed after being poached by Italian side Parma. Three new hires have replaced them. Arnaldo Abrantes has joined from Aston Villa as club doctor. Eneko Angulo arrives from Real Betis as a rehabilitation specialist.
And Bayer Leverkusen fitness coach Jose Jimenez has been added to the ranks with Wilson gone.
The trio will hope to resolve Arsenal’s injury issues, starting with getting Ben White and Jurrien Timber up to speed.
That would ease concerns over players returning late, but the situation presents an opportunity for youngsters. The door is open for Max Dowman, 16, on the right flank, given Noni Madueke and Saka were away with England.
In midfield, Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly can both hope for minutes as Martin Zubimendi, Merino and Rice were at the World Cup until the final weekend.
Nwaneri faces an uncertain future right now, yet MLS showed towards the back end of last season how quickly things can change.
The 19-year-old looked set for the exit door – but ended up starting the Champions League final.
Him carrying on where he left off would ease Arteta’s headache at a time when the problems feel like they are already piling up – Sun.
