Arsenal players are now returning to pre-season training as they aim to start the upcoming campaign in the best possible way.
Most of Mikel Arteta’s squad have returned to North London, with some of the stars at Euro 2024 and the Copa America set to join later.
Some Arsenal players even joined Arteta for extra training in Marbella during their holidays, with it clear that the Spaniard wants a fast start to next season.
For some players, pre-season is a big opportunity to try and gain a starting role whilst the likes of Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka enjoy extended breaks after reaching the final of the Euros.
Fabio Vieira appears set to stay at Arsenal, but must use pre-season as an opportunity to show why he deserves more game time, and the same may apply to Gabriel Jesus, who may push for a starting role after losing his spot last season.
Jesus was usurped in the pecking order by Kai Havertz, but both attackers can now look to the example of Olivier Giroud as the blueprint of how to perform in pre-season.
Olivier Giroud enjoyed outstanding Arsenal pre-season campaign in 2013
The summer of 2013 saw Arsenal fail to sign a striker, but Giroud saw a much better start to the season than he did after he arrived the year before.
Arsenal had a productive pre-season trip to Indonesia under Arsene Wenger, and Giroud led the way with goals in big wins alongside several youngsters including Serge Gnabry.
The Gunners then participated in the Emirates Cup, which saw Giroud score an overhead kick against Napoli, before Arsenal smashed Manchester City 3-1 in Helsinki, with Giroud again on the scoresheet.
Giroud had netted eight goals in pre-season, and whilst these did not count on any competitive scale, it meant he was in the perfect form to start the Premier League campaign, and he scored within just six minutes of the opening day.
The Frenchman was in blistering form at the start of the season, scoring in four consecutive Premier League games, and after six games in all competitions by September, he had scored five goals, and also provided an assist.
Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus need to follow Olivier Giroud pre-season example
Photo by Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty ImagesHavertz and Jesus are competing for the centre-forward spot, with Havertz ending last season in excellent form.
Pre-season will give both a chance to ensure that they are fully firing by the start of the season, and they will ideally follow Giroud’s example as they head to the USA on tour.
Either striker reaching a strong vein of scoring form and fitness levels will mean that they are ready to hit the ground running at the start of the season.
Neither enjoyed strong starts last year, with Havertz struggling for form and confidence after his arrival from Chelsea, and Jesus missing pre-season with injury.
READ MORE: Arsenal pre-season tour 2024 – destination, fixtures, how to watch and moreWhen Jesus first arrived at Arsenal two years ago, he instantly impressed in pre-season and carried that form into the campaign. Both he and Havertz should aim to do the same this time, and earn their place in the starting XI.
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