Alexis and Shkodran Mustafi will be the final fit first-teamers to return to training following their international commitments this summer.
The Chilean and German went head to head in the Confederations Cup final in Russia on July 2 with Mustafi’s team coming out on top. And after a welcome four-week break, both are due back this weekend.
“Alexis and Mustafi, their first training session will be on Sunday, the day we play against Sevilla [in the Emirates Cup],” Arsene Wenger told Arsenal Player. “They are practising on the day.”
Alexis and Mustafi will have 12 days to prepare for our Premier League opener against Leicester City, and seven days to get ready for the Community Shield clash with Chelsea at Wembley. The boss wants to assess both players before he decides when to select them.
“First of all you make a really good check up of where they are, how much they have worked during their break,” he said. “After, once you know where you stand, they need an adjusted programme and to see how quickly you can fit them in again.
“Of course it depends as well on what is the need in the squad, what is their quality. All of these things together make your decision. Do you put them on the bench when they are not ready [to start]? It is easier to put a striker on the bench than a defender, sometimes. Because in a short period they can make an impact. We’ll see.”
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