3 things Arsenal really need from this weekend

Domestic football is back. At last. While some nations across the globe had crucial World Cup qualifiers or play-off matches, for many others it was merely rather uninspiring friendly matches. Arsenal included.

Benjamin White played more minutes, this time at right-back for England (Benjamin White-back?) and Kieran Tierney bagged his first goal for Scotland, among some other highlights.

But that’s now in the past. Club action is back on our screens and some good ol’ Arsenal is being served up.

Not until Monday against Crystal Palace, that is.

3 things Arsenal really need from this weekend’s Premier League action as Mikel Arteta prepares his side to face Crystal Palace on Monday

As if the wait wasn’t already painful, there will be further catch up for Mikel Arteta’s side with the rest of the division in action before the Gunners kick off again. It’ll be back to have two matches in hand, even if only briefly.

So what is needed over the Premier League weekend? Without kicking a ball there is still plenty to work on or hope for, with three areas springing to mind.

1. Refocus and Reunite

Beating Brentford 4-1 in a behind closed doors friendly really ran home just how few of the senior Arsenal group aren’t regular internationals.

Takehiro Tomiyasu, Aaron Ramsdale and Gabriel all stayed behind despite being initially called up, leaving just Bernd Leno, Rob Holding, Nuno Tavares and Alexandre Lacazette left to feature in that game.

With a large contingent returning to London Colney, some from Africa and South America, it’s all about getting the group back together and straight back into the mindset they had prior to departing.

Arteta stressed the importance of his during his Thursday press conference:

"“I will have them all today, just try to refocus them, obviously, when they’re on international duty all the time they’re being asked to do different things, different roles, different kind of pressures,” he said. “For some of them, it was their first international, so emotionally for them as well it’s very draining. And make sure that everyone is fine and look forward to the challenge that we have ahead.”"

In the same ways that he lets his players bask in any victories they secure and then the minute they get back into the changing room the focus switches to the next game, he will demand the same priority shift over the weekend.

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