Arsenal in Asia: Pre-season, Signings and Stars to Watch

Arsenal Starts its Preseason with Asian Tour

Arsenal has begun its pre-season with great expectation, embarking on a tour of Asia. The “Gunners” will play three matches on the continent, culminating in the first North London derby outside the United Kingdom, against Tottenham Hotspur in Hong Kong at the end of the month. Coach Mikel Arteta has called up a group of 30 players for what is Arsenal’s first visit to the region in seven years, marking the start of preparations for a crucial season for both the coach and the club.

Arteta won the FA Cup in 2020, but has not won any title since then, despite the team’s constant and undeniable progress. A positive pre-season could galvanize a fanbase frustrated by not seeing their rivals lift trophies.

Alofoke Deportes

Arsenal’s Asian Tour Calendar

• Arsenal vs. AC Milan, National Stadium, Singapore
• Arsenal vs. Newcastle United, National Stadium, Singapore
• Arsenal vs. Tottenham Hotspur, Kai Tak Stadium, Hong Kong

All matches will be played at 7:30 p.m. local time.

Preseason Goal: Build Confidence

Arsenal has been close to the top in the Premier League, finishing second in the last three seasons, but has gone five years without winning a trophy. One of Arteta’s biggest challenges is to convince this young team that they haven’t reached their peak yet. Despite Liverpool, Chelsea, and Tottenham having won titles, Arsenal is not destined to be just a “nearly champion”. The team’s biggest problem is goals. Arsenal drew 14 league games last season and their total of 69 goals was significantly less than Liverpool’s, the champions, 86, and only five more than Tottenham, who finished in 17th place. With Viktor Gyökeres not yet officially on the team and Noni Madueke, understandably, resting after his participation in the Club World Cup with Chelsea, the current forwards will have to prove their ability during the tour.

Transfer Market Movements

Sign Ups

• Kepa Arrizabalaga (Chelsea, £5 million)
• Martín Zubimendi (Real Sociedad, £51m)
• Christian Nørgaard (Brentford, £15m)
• Noni Madueke (Chelsea, £52m)

Deceased

• Jorginho (Flamengo, free)
• Kieran Tierney (Celtic, free)
• Nuno Tavares (Lazio, £4.3m)
• Marquinhos (Cruzeiro, undisclosed)
• Takehiro Tomiyasu (released)
• Thomas Partey (released)

Star Player to Watch

Arsenal hoped to have Gyökeres for the Asian tour, but the “Gunners” left without their main summer target, as negotiations with Sporting continue. Therefore, attention is focused on Zubimendi, whose arrival for £51 million from Real Sociedad is a great achievement, considering that Liverpool tried to sign him last summer and Manchester City also showed interest. Zubimendi’s task will likely be to anchor a midfield with Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard. There have been notable changes in Arsenal’s midfield with the departures of Partey and Jorginho at the end of their contracts at the end of last season. Zubimendi’s key task will be to help the team establish the high level of control that Arteta demands from his midfield.

Is Zubimendi Arsenal’s answer for in front of the back four? Gab Marcotti and Don Hutchison discuss Arsenal’s newest signing Martín Zubimendi.

Three Promising Promises

Max Dowman: The 15-year-old prodigy everyone is talking about at Arsenal. Although he cannot sign a professional contract until 2026, the attacking midfielder will be part of the club’s tour squad. Described by Arteta as a “great talent”, Dowman trained with the first team for several months last season, after becoming the youngest goalscorer in the history of the UEFA Youth League at the age of 14 years, eight months and nine days. He finished last season with 14 goals and three assists in his last seven games with Arsenal’s under-18 team.Marli Salmon: Another 15-year-old player making the jump to the first team. Salmon, a center-back, isn’t necessarily expected to emerge as quickly as Dowman, but only Dowman and Ethan Nwaneri have played for Arsenal’s U21s in Premier League 2 at a younger age. Salmon considers William Saliba his role model and there are similarities in his game.Andre Harriman-Annous: He will turn 18 in December and is another player who has been training regularly with the first team during 2025. The young prospect is eligible to represent England or Nigeria at the international level and has played as a winger, striker, and number 10.