Arsenal are set to begin their pre-season preparations this month with a significant number of first-team players still competing at the World Cup in North America.
Ten members of Mikel Arteta’s squad remain involved in the tournament, which has now reached the quarter-final stage, creating a genuine selection headache for the Gunners’ boss.
David Raya, Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi are all representing Spain, who face Leandro Trossard’s Belgium in a quarter-final on Friday night at 8pm.
Saturday night’s last-eight clash sees Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard’s Norway go up against England, who feature Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze.
William Saliba will be the first Arsenal player in quarter-final action when France take on Morocco on Friday evening at 9pm.
At least two Arsenal players will exit the tournament over the weekend, though they will still require an extended rest period before returning to club duty.
Arsenal take on Girona, Real Betis, Borussia Dortmund and Como in pre-season friendlies before facing Manchester City in the FA Community Shield on August 16.
Those still deep in the World Cup are expected back later than teammates who were knocked out at earlier stages, meaning the friendly line-ups could look significantly different from what fans might expect.
Gabriel, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli and Viktor Gyokeres all participated in the World Cup but their earlier exits mean they should be available for the majority of pre-season games.
The situation could hand goalkeeper Illan Meslier an early opportunity to impress, with the former Leeds man set to join the club on a free transfer.
With Raya still at the World Cup and Kepa Arrizabalaga reportedly set to move on, Meslier could find himself straight into the starting XI during pre-season.
Max Dowman and Myles Lewis-Skelly could also benefit from the circumstances, with Lewis-Skelly potentially deployed in midfield alongside Christian Norgaard and Dowman starting on the right side of midfield.
Without a recognised right-back available, Arteta is likely to turn to Cristian Mosquera in that position, with Piero Hincapie partnering Gabriel in central defence.
A potential Arsenal XI could line up as follows: Meslier; Mosquera, Gabriel, Hincapie, Calafiori; Norgaard, Lewis-Skelly; Dowman, Havertz, Martinelli; Gyokeres.
The Premier League season opener against newly-promoted Coventry City at the Emirates Stadium takes place on Friday, August 21, with an 8pm kick-off, and Arteta will be hoping his key players return in time.
