Arsenal kicked off their pre-season schedule with back-to-back 1-1 draws last week, against Watford and Nurnberg respectively, with Marquinhos and Bukayo Saka on the scoresheet.
The Gunners still have four friendlies to play before facing Manchester City in the Community Shield on August 6th. The run of games will allow Mikel Arteta to assess his options and take a closer look at some of the young talents looking to make an impression.
Kai Havertz made his debut for Arsenal against Nurnberg, and he is the first of few new faces to have already arrived at the Emirates Stadium this summer. New signings Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber have also teamed up with the Arsenal squad that has flown to the United States for the pre-season tour.
While the north London giants continue to be linked with several players, there are also several members of Arteta’s current group who will have points to prove in the pre-season tour of the United States. On that note, let us take a look at those three players.
#Folarin Balogun
Folarin Balogun will be hoping to force his way into Mikel Arteta’s plans for next season after an impressive season-long loan spell at French side Reims in 2022/23. He netted 22 goals in 39 games during his loan spell at Reims, outscoring Lionel Messi and Neymar in the process.
The chances of Balogun breaking into Arteta’s side have been made harder by Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah being ahead of him in the striking pecking order. However, if he is given the opportunity to impress in pre-season, it could do wonders for the USA international, both in the short-term and the long-term.
The 22-year-old has a big decision to make at Arsenal. He has already been linked with clubs such as Inter Milan, Juventus, Marseille and RB Leipzig. A lot will depend on how well Balogun performs during Arsenal’s pre-season tour of the United States, which will be his final chance to convince Arteta that he deserves to stay at the club and fight for his place in the starting XI.
#Takehiro Tomiyasu
Takehiro Tomiyasu will feel he has a lot to prove to anyone but as he missed the backend of last season through a knee injury, he will hope to come back stronger and fitter and hit the ground running.
Given how admirably Ben White performed at right-back last season and the arrival of Jurrien Timber from Ajax earlier this transfer window, Tomiyasu, 24, will have his work cut out to compete at right-back. The Japanese international has more to offer than what he showed last term, with his versatility to play at left-back as well as a part of a back three likely to be a bonus for an Arsenal side that will compete in the Champions League next term.
However, the most essential thing for Tomiyasu is to prove his fitness and get back to game rhythm in the next few weeks of the pre-season.
#Fabio Vieira
Fabio Vieira had an underwhelming first season at the Emirates Stadium. At his former club FC Porto, he was labelled the Portuguese “assist king”, but whenever Vieira played for the Gunners last season, he looked weak and bereft of confidence.
The 23-year-old never really challenged Martin Odegaard for a spot in the Arsenal midfield. He heavily featured in the Europa League and did well at times but found it difficult to adapt to the demands of Premier League football.
The need to rotate players to sufficiently rest them next season will force others to step up, and this is how Vieira contributes to Arteta’s project at Arsenal. With Kai Havertz arriving from Chelsea for a lot of money to add more quality and competition within the squad, Vieira has to be out to defy his critics. Thus, this pre-season tour could be perfect for the Portuguese midfielder to show Arteta and his coaching staff what he’s capable of.