Report: Gunners agree Spain camp as players seek early pre-season edge | OneFootball

Arsenal Prepare for Pre-Season Training Camp in Spain Amid Player Push

As the dust settles on a season that once again promised much but ended without silverware, Arsenal’s focus has already shifted to preparation. This summer, a group of first-team players will convene early for a warm-weather training camp in Spain, part of a growing culture at the club where ambition no longer waits for pre-season to officially begin.

The push has come not from management but from within the dressing room. Following last year’s off-season trip to Marbella, players not involved in Euro 2024 have asked for a similar early meet-up to begin fitness work, team bonding and tactical refreshers before the formal schedule resumes. Mikel Arteta, who has steadily built a squad driven by self-improvement, is happy to support it.

“The players are demanding it,” said Arteta. “I mean nowadays I think it’s impossible to have four, five, six weeks on your sun bed, putting sun cream [on] and just ordering drinks.

“Then come back, six weeks later and go full gas, tour and play 65 games. I think it’s impossible. Now they demand themselves to be in the best possible condition.

Spain sets tone for high-intensity summer

The early sessions will take place in Spain, with Marbella once again a likely destination. It is not just about topping up fitness. For Arteta’s side, this setting offers the chance to reset mentally after falling short in the Premier League and Champions League once more. Such proactive preparation signals how seriously Arsenal are treating this campaign, as the club enters a fourth full season under their manager’s stewardship still seeking a major trophy.

Arteta has long valued the power of culture and leadership. His comments show that Arsenal’s squad, increasingly filled with leaders in their early to mid-20s, are now taking charge of their own standards. These pre-season plans are not a managerial instruction but a reflection of internal accountability.

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Once Spain concludes, Arsenal’s summer steps up. On 19 July, they fly to Singapore for a high-profile Asian tour that will culminate in a much-anticipated fixture against Tottenham Hotspur. The North London rivals will meet at the newly opened 55,000-capacity Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong, where tickets were snapped up within weeks of release.

The significance of the Spurs clash stretches beyond the rivalry. Arsenal view this match as a key test ahead of the Premier League’s opening weeks. Travel, intense conditions and elite opposition will simulate the challenges to come. These are the types of fixtures Arteta believes will sharpen his team’s focus and mentality.

Final tune-ups set for Emirates return

Arsenal are also planning to wrap up their pre-season with a return to north London. The Emirates Stadium will once again host friendly fixtures just before the new campaign kicks off. Last year, the Gunners hosted Bayer Leverkusen and Lyon in a double-header that served to reintroduce competitive rhythm in front of their home crowd.

While the names of this year’s final opponents are yet to be confirmed, the strategy remains clear. Reconnecting with the fans and finalising tactical frameworks in a familiar setting helps bridge the gap between pre-season promise and competitive performance.

Arsenal’s trophy drought has extended beyond what any supporter or player finds acceptable. Yet with senior players pushing for early training, overseas tests and high standards throughout, there is a sense that the Gunners are not content with coming close any longer. The training camp in Spain might look like a repeat of last year, but the mindset has shifted. Now, it is about setting the tone for a season that must deliver more than potential.