3 winners & losers from Arsenal's 2024 pre-season

Excitement is brewing on the red half of north London as the start of a potentially majestic 2024/25 campaign beckons.

The conclusion of Arsenal's pre-season programme means Mikel Arteta firmly has his sights set on Gary O'Neil's Wolves. The Gunners welcome the West Midlands outfit to the Emirates to kick-off their Premier League campaign on Saturday afternoon.

The club's results were mixed across the pond, but back-to-back wins on home soil against Bayer Leverkusen and Lyon offered a reminder of just how potent Arteta's unit is. There are signs of the Gunners quickly reaching mid-season form given the intensity and sharpness with which they played.

So, with a fairly hefty summer schedule in the books and the new season upon us, let's take a look at the winners and losers from Arsenal's 2024 pre-season.

1. Winner - Oleksandr Zinchenko

There was genuine uncertainty surrounding Zinchenko's future entering the summer. His importance to the Gunners dwindled in year two, and his defensive frailties meant Arteta turned to alternative options down the stretch.

Some supporters had washed their hands with the Ukrainian.

However, it seems as if a shirt number switch has rejuvenated the technically supreme full-back. Arsenal's new #17 was arguably their standout performer over the two Emirates friendlies to round off pre-season.

Zinchenko ignited the rout over Leverkusen with a pinpoint finish and was almost faultless in the build-up and second phases. He was able to dictate and control like a seasoned tempo-setter. We know how good he is in possession, and this is where the bulk of his value resides. However, if he can defend with the same vigour and bite he showed against Leverkusen and Lyon (although defensive sequences did come far and few between), there's no reason to suggest he can't play a key role in particular games (vs deep-lying defences) for the Gunners in 2024/25.

2. Loser - Fabio Vieira

Vieira's summer started with a bang. His early strike against Bournemouth was indicative of a player with a point to prove heading into an important year three.

Unfortunately, Vieira's pre-season peaked with that excellent finish in California. Arteta has turned to the former Porto man who's yet to catch fire in north London, but Vieira hasn't benefitted from his stationing down the right flank.

There have been glimmers, but he's never going to stamp his authority on a contest from the right flank. He's too predictable, but he remains a creator that can make things happen when afforded space in and around the final third.

3. Winner - Hale End

Oh, don't you worry, Mikel respects Hale End. He was just waiting for Arsenal's young guns to ripen.

Critics have pointed at the manager's supposed lack of trust in the club's academy as a reason to slander the Spaniard, but a simpler explanation is that previous academy stars simply haven't been of the requisite quality.

Arteta handed regular minutes to the likes of Ayden Heaven and Josh Nichols in pre-season, but Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly were the two who stood out to be potential first-team contributors in 2024/25.

The pair of 17-year-olds have been on the radars of supporters for quite some time, and the ease at which they manoeuvred within Arteta's complex framework this summer suggests they may well be ready. The manager has certainly been bullish over the prospect of the club's academy starlets playing in role this season.

4. Loser - Jakub Kiwior

In truth, Kiwior didn't do all that much wrong in pre-season. We know what we're going to get from the Pole. He's sturdy enough; a sound progressive passer that struggles somewhat athletically. His defensive instincts are fairly impressive, but he shouldn't be playing regularly for a side of Arsenal's ambition.

Remember what Leroy Sane did to him?

Anyway, Riccardo Calafiori's here now and Zinchenko's stellar summer has rendered Kiwior redundant. Defensive depth shouldn't be scoffed at, nor should Kiwior's versatility, but the Gunners also have Jurrien Timber on the comeback trail.

The former Spezia defender is a long way down the depth chart at both centre- and left-back. His sale before the end of the window makes too much sense.

5. Winner - Gabriel Jesus

Is it a make-or-break season for Jesus? Arsenal are going to enter the market for a blockbuster attacker - likely next summer - and the Brazilian may well be the man sacrificed to facilitate such an arrival if his 2024/25 campaign is more 2023/24 than opening two months of 2022/23.

Jesus could be such an asset for this Arsenal team. While he's unlikely to ever be prolific, he offers so much outside of final third production. He works superbly well in tandem with Kai Havertz and is a player that seemingly makes those around him function optimally. He's a facilitator.

The Brazilian's pre-season was full of promise. This was a Jesus that didn't seem bogged down by a lingering knee issue; a forward playing without inhibition. He pressed to great effect against Liverpool and produced his best 45 minutes of the summer in the 4-1 win over Leverkusen.

A fit and firing Jesus has plenty to offer the Gunners this season.

6. Loser - Gabriel Martinelli

This may seem a bit harsh. Martinelli returned midway through the tour of the States following a quiet Copa America and had an immediate impact in his first appearance of the summer.

The Brazilian was full of his trademark ebullience down the left as he scored the winner in a 2-1 win over Manchester United.

However, his pre-season was fairly muted thereafter. The winger did earn a start against Lyon in Sunday's Emirates Cup, but Martinelli produced a scrappy performance down his flank. He offered a constant in-behind threat, for which he should be praised, but Martinelli's execution with the final ball was sub-par.

Expect Leandro Trossard to get the nod against Wolves, but don't, whatever you do, write the Brazilian international off.

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