Arsenal returned to Sobha Realty for pre-season training on Monday, although Mikel Arteta will have a depleted squad to work with over the next few weeks, with many players yet to make their way back due to their involvement at the World Cup.

The Gunners may have ended their 22-year wait for a Premier League title last season, but Arteta and Andrea Berta aren’t prepared to rest on their laurels. The North London club’s hierarchy want to build a dynasty at the Emirates Stadium over the coming years, as many of their closest rivals deal with periods of transition.

Bruno Guimaraes is being targeted by Berta, while Arsenal are also intent on bolstering their attack this summer, with Julian Alvarez and Barcely Barcola linked with a switch to N5.

There is a need to make these signings quickly, with Arteta’s squad set to be short on options in the opening few weeks of the campaign. 15 of the Spaniard’s ensemble were competing in North America over the summer, and all of these players are now set to receive extended rests, with their planned returns to training scattered across multiple weeks.

FIFA rules stipulate that players must be given a minimum of three consecutive weeks off between seasons, although reports suggest Arsenal might extend this break to four weeks to allow their overburdened stars to properly recover from an exhaustive last 12 months.

Who is already in Arsenal pre-season training?

Arsenal were one of the most represented clubs at the World Cup this summer, and a symptom of this is that Arteta is likely to field a somewhat unrecognisable starting XI in the Gunners’ first few matches of pre-season.

Everyone who wasn’t called up by their nations for the World Cup, or plays for a country that didn’t qualify, returned to full training on Monday.

Illan Meslier signed from Leeds earlier this summer, and he joined the likes of Kepa Arrizabalaga and Tommy Setford in goalkeeper sessions this week. At the back, Jurrien Timber and Ben White returned to work on their respective recoveries from injury, although it’s not clear how involved either right-back was in Arteta’s wider group sessions.

Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup, so Riccardo Calafiori has enjoyed a summer off and is now ready to get going again for the Gunners. Cristhian Mosquera didn’t make Luis de la Fuente’s tournament-winning squad, but is back and available for the Gunners from the outset.

Elsewhere, Myles Lewis-Skelly is back at Sohba Realty already after failing to make the cut with England. He’s been joined by fellow Hale End academy graduates Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman, as well as Reiss Nelson, who has returned from his loan at Brentford.

Christian Norgaard, Fabio Vieira and Gabriel Jesus, all of whom could leave Arsenal this summer, also returned on Monday, for what could be their final few weeks at London Colney.

When will each World Cup player return to Arsenal training?

Stephane Mahe via Reuters

Going off the assumption that each player who featured at the World Cup for Arsenal will get four weeks off, the players who returned on Monday are likely to be the only ones available to Arteta for the Gunners’ game against Girona on August 1.

That said, they may have one more to add to the group who could easily play against the Spanish side. Christos Tzolis has signed for Arsenal from Club Brugge, and he could be immediately thrown into the fold, as the Greek has already been back at training for several weeks.

Every Arsenal player at the World Cup reached the knockout stages, although three fell at the first hurdle once the group stage was over. Kai Havertz was knocked out with Germany on June 29, meaning his return could be pencilled in for Monday July 27.

Both Viktor Gyokeres and Piero Hincapie crashed out of the tournament a day later, meaning both could be back in training by Tuesday, July 28.

Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli went a step further, reaching the last 16 of the competition in North America. They left the United States on July 5 when Brazil lost to Norway, meaning both could return on Monday, August 3. If Guimaraes is acquired, this would naturally be the point where he also makes his first appearance in Arsenal training.

Martin Odegaard could follow the Brazilians through the door at Sobha Realty exactly a week later, four weeks after Norway’s game against England. This would give the playmaker the chance to be fit for the Community Shield match against Manchester City, which takes place on Sunday, August 16.

The next wave of Arsenal players could report back on Monday, August 17, following a four-week break after the conclusion of the World Cup. That timeframe would apply to those whose teams reached the semi-finals, with David Raya, Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke all likely to fall into this category. With the Premier League commencing just four days after this, the quintet will have limited time to build match fitness before the season’s curtain-raiser. This would also pertain to the likes of Alvarez and Barcola, if the Gunners complete moves for either of these World Cup stars.

The situation is different for William Saliba, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka. Arsenal are expected to take a more cautious approach with all three, who are each managing injury issues and require an extended recovery period before returning to training.

The club is still waiting to determine the full extent of Saliba’s back problem, while Rice and Saka are anticipated to remain on leave until after the first international break. If that plan is followed, the England internationals would not be back in contention until the middle or latter stages of September.

Ultimately, Arteta is going to have to cope with a tumultuous and chaotic pre-season, with players arriving at different times and several of them set to miss multiple matches, in the season proper as well as the preparation fixtures.

Former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro made his debut for Inter Miami on Saturday night, playing the full 90 minutes as the David Beckham-owned side earned a 1-0 victory over Montreal.

The Brazilian joined the MLS outfit after the World Cup, having become a free agent when his contract with the Red Devils expired. That came despite the Old Trafford faithful appearing desperate for the 34-year-old to extend his stay.

A move across the pond instead seemed to signal that his best days were behind him. Many European football stars head to the USA with retirement in mind, but the reaction to his debut suggests Casemiro may still have a lot left in the tank.

Fans Cast Verdict on Casemiro After MLS Debut For Inter Miami

Matthew Childs via Reuters

Across 90 minutes this weekend, Casemiro managed to make one key pass, complete 89 per cent of his passes, and also contribute to three defensive actions. While the fact he only won two of his six total duels might imply he struggled in the midfield battle at times, fans have been quick to sign his praises, as one X user remarked (watch his full highlights below):

Another continued: “Casemiro was just cruising man, MLS is way too easy for him,” as a third wrote: “This is like Sunday league for him.” Meanwhile, a fourth also concluded: “Bro already dominating that league.”

Casemiro’s Transfer is Being Investigated

via Reuters

Casemiro’s first game in the iconic pink of Miami was overshadowed by a serious injury to his new teammate German Berterame, who was taken away in an ambulance. But, more broadly, his switch to America has begun on uneven ground after the league opened up an investigation about how his new club went about securing a deal for him.

The investigation centres around the ‘discovery rights’ of Casemiro. MLS clubs are allowed to name up to five players on their ‘discovery list’. If a player on their list then moves to another MLS team, the buying club must agree a fee to obtain the ‘discovery rights’.

LA Galaxy held the ‘discovery rights’ for Casemiro and Inter Miami confirmed they had reached an agreement to obtain them. However, the MLS are investigating ‘tampering allegations’ against The Herons, as per Manchester Evening News.

“The league is gathering all relevant information and will refrain from further comment until the review is complete,” the MLS said in a statement. “While Inter Miami CF and the LA Galaxy have reached a settlement for the discovery priority [first rights] to sign Casemiro, the terms will be released upon conclusion of the tampering investigation.”

Inter Miami beat CF Montreal in their MLS clash at Stadium Saputo on Saturday evening. However, the match was marred by a serious injury to Herons star, German Berterame.

Berterame has been in fine form in front of goal in recent weeks, and he was named in his side’s starting lineup for their match against CF Montreal.

He suffered a serious injury with 21 minutes of the match remaining, though. The ball dropped to the Mexican forward in the box and he produced a powerful header that just went wide.

However, after making contact with the ball, he was hit on the head by the elbow of Montreal defender Efraín Morales. Berterame collapsed to the ground in a heap and required immediate medical attention.

After a few minutes on the ground, an ambulance made its way onto the pitch, and he was loaded onto the vehicle via a stretcher and taken to hospital.

Inter Miami Manager Guillermo Hoyos Provides Update on German Berterame

Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Inter Miami went on to win the match 1-0 thanks to Luis Suarez’s 81st minute winner. Inter Miami were given a spot-kick for the foul on Berterame and Suarez made no mistake as his ‘Panenka’ deceived Montreal goalkeeper Sebastian Breza and found the back of the net.

Suarez paid tribute to his teammate after his goal as he held up the Mexican international’s No. 19 jersey.

Inter Miami manager Guillermo Hoyos gave an update on Berterame’s condition after the match. He said, per ESPN:

“What happened to Germán was a very, very hard blow. Regarding the play, it’s obvious there was an elbow, which is why a penalty was awarded, he fell like dead weight.

“The most important thing is that he is okay, and he is okay now. It shook us all because we really didn’t know what to do. It was a moment of great desperation and deep sadness, because it went beyond the result, the football, and all that; it’s about human life, that’s what matters most. So, we just hope everything turns out well.”

Hoyos added: “The players themselves helped rush the stretcher over, and the ambulance came in. It was a really quick response to help Germán. Right now, he is at the clinic undergoing tests, but he is okay.”

Casemiro made his Inter Miami debut against Montreal CF and played the full 90 minutes in his side’s victory. David Beckham’s side are next in action on Saturday, August 1, when they welcome Colombus to Nu Stadium.