Mikel Arteta has now welcomed the majority of his Arsenal players back for pre-season before jetting off to the US on Sunday.
In the coming weeks, Arsenal will play Bournemouth, Manchester United and Liverpool all in the States, before then returning to London for the Emirates Cup.
Arteta’s side will play five games before their Premier League curtain-raiser against Wolverhampton Wanderers on August 17.
Of course, before then Edu and his recruitment team will surely be hoping to deliver at least two or three new signings – players intended to improve the club’s squad depth.
In that regard, Real Sociedad are aware of Arsenal’s interest in Mikel Merino – a midfielder who could finally fill Granit Xhaka’s void.
And although Edu will primarily look to offload players deemed surplus to requirements before welcoming new arrivals, Arsenal could make an exception for Riccardo Calafiori.
That being said, in a summer in which Arsenal need further backup in midfield, some of the club’s supporters may still be hoping that there’s a chance for Hale-Ender Charlie Patino.
Mikel Arteta has included Charlie Patino in pre-season at Arsenal
Arteta was reportedly ready to sell Patino last season, not able to envision a first-team path for the 20-year-old.
Patino played in Arsenal XI’s traditional pre-season curtain-raiser against Boreham Wood recently and impressed, and interestingly wasn’t involved with the under-21s on Tuesday evening.
The English midfielder has instead remained with Arteta and the first team, perhaps signalling that Patino could go on the US tour.
Patino, who was hailed as an ‘outstanding’ talent in the academy years ago, but reportedly only has one-year left on his Arsenal contract.
And in truth, it would be a surprise if the midfielder’s future suddenly changed course – it still seems likely that he’ll leave Arsenal.
But perhaps there’s a small part of both Arteta and Patino which may feel that his inclusion in the US could change things – should he be handed the chance.
