Arsenal’s young players were back in pre-season training this week, with the first team squad due to report back to London Colney on July 15. Some players have already been out in Marbella with manager Mikel Arteta, getting in some early fitness work.
The players on international duty will return in dribs and drabs as their participation in tournaments ends. And two players who Arteta may have expected back last will be available to him earlier than expected.
That is because Brazil were knocked out of the Copa America in the early hours of Sunday morning. Their quarter-final match with Uruguay ended goalless after 90 minutes and then extra-time, but it was Marcelo Bielsa’s side who won out on penalties to secure a semi-final berth against Colombia.
The Selecao were pretty underwhelming throughout the tournament, having kicked it off with a defeat to Costa Rica in the group stage. Many, including Arteta, will have expected them to go all the way and be in the USA and Mexico for another week.
But now, two Arsenal players – Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli – are heading back to the UK. Or perhaps heading on holiday first.
So when will they be available for Arteta? Arsenal have a pre-season friendly against Boreham Wood on July 13, although that is expected to be for young players, with the main first team set to return to training two days later on Monday, July 15.
It is unlikely Martinelli and Magalhaes will be back by July 15, although they could be. Footballers’ Union FIFPRO have guidelines around how much time players should have off between seasons.
Their guidance describes an off-season break as: “The period given to players between two seasons, without training or matches, in order to recover and regenerate. Off-season breaks are mandatory, should last at least 28 days (combination of physically inactive and active weeks) and must take place outside the club and national team environment.”
Brazil’s team got together for the Copa America at the beginning of June, which gave Magalhaes and Martinelli two weeks off after the Premier League season ended.
