The Arsenal star is being compared to Jude Bellingham among the three who could face a fight to save their future ahead of the season
Arsenal begin their unofficial start to their Premier League title defense with their first pre-season game next weekend.
Mikel Arteta’s side wrap up their preparations for the new season with trips to Girona and Dublin before returning to London.
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The Gunners had 15 players at the World Cup this summer, meaning several key players will not return to training for weeks.
However, their absence gives other young players a chance to impress Arteta at the start of pre-season.
The Spaniard has kept the same squad strong in recent years, but this summer promises to be a dramatic shake-up.
Arsenal’s latest transfer
Arsenal have already agreed a deal to sign Christos Tzolis for £34million, and Leandro Trossard. coming out of Besiktas.
The Gunners ended up missing out high target Morgan Rogers after signing a record breaking £117m deal from Chelsea.
The club are still keen to sign Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes, although the two clubs are at odds over the Brazilian’s price.
Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez is another highly regarded player, while French defender Bradley Barcola has been tipped.
But it promises to be a big summer for some players who are already in the building – others are facing a battle to prove their worth.
The following names do not include the likes of Fabio Vieira and Reiss Nelson, who seem to already know their future lies elsewhere.
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The future of Ethan Nwaneri
Arsenal ended their 22-year wait for a Premier League title, but it was a frustrating season for one of their Hale End success stories.
Last year, Nwaneri was compared to Jude Bellingham and Lamine Yamal, as well talkSPORT’s Adrian Durham even went so far as to say it was a Thomas Tuchel’s ‘loose case’ not to select a youngster in his first England team in March 2025.
However, Nwaneri started just four of 12 games for the Gunners in all competitions last season before being sent out on loan.
The 19-year-old joined Roberto De Zerbi’s Marseille in the second half of the campaign and scored just 13 minutes on his debut.
However, he found himself out of the squad after the current Tottenham manager stepped down as head coach, while Nwaneri was an unused substitute for the club’s final five of the club’s six Ligue 1 games of the 2025-26 season.
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Arsenal’s number 22 trained with the England squad in the United States ahead of the World Cup and is now back in pre-season training.
European football expert Andy Brassell expects Arsenal’s style to change slightly from last season – which could spell bad news for Nwaneri, as the club are eyeing Moroccan star Ayyoub Bouaddi.
He told talkSPORT.com: “What are they doing with Ethan Nwaneri? Are they bringing him back?
“Do they send him back on loan and hope he plays more than he did at Marseille, or do they decide to make money and sell him?”
With Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, and Noni Madueke all delayed returns after the World Cup, the start of pre-season will be a big opportunity for Nwaneri.
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The rise, fall and rise again of Ben White?
Arsenal have confirmed that William Saliba will be out for an ‘extended period’ due to a back injury.
At the other end of the scale, England defender White has recovered from his knee problem at the start of pre-season.
The 28-year-old raised the issue during the Gunners’ Premier League win over West Ham in May, ending his World Cup hopes.
White he’s been on a run that’s made him start the last five games in all competitions, which he also saw him remembered by England in March.
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Eight injuries over the past two seasons have seen the former Brighton defender miss 42 games for Arsenal, leaving his future in doubt.
Now White, who only has two years left on his deal, could once again take his place as a key part of Arteta’s backline with the fitness issues of others.
Saliba has been sidelined for the foreseeable future, while first-choice right-back Jurrien Timber continues to struggle with a groin problem.
Arsenal have since been linked with the departure of two English players John Stones and Ezri Konsa, who ended up being able to play in the middle and right back like White did.
White’s strong start to pre-season could convince Arteta that Aston Villa’s Konsa approach is not what is needed right now.
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Taking Vik
Unlike Nwaneri and White, Viktor Gyokeres will start the pre-season after leading Sweden’s run to the Last-32 of the World Cup.
This striker is fighting for his future more than many, despite being Arsenal’s top scorer in his first season at the club.
talkSPORT have revealed that Arsenal have explored the possibility of offering Gyokeres as a weight during the initial negotiations for Julian Alvarez.
Arteta has made it clear who he sees as his first striker in the Champions League final, with Kai Havertz tasked with leading the line.
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The German player underwent two surgeries in seven months last year but scored three goals in four World Cup matches for his country.
Gyokeres could find himself in third place in a row, as World Cup winner Mikel Merino is also back and firing.
The Spaniard returned from injury before the tournament after breaking his foot in January.
He then underlined his credentials in front of goal by scoring two late winners for La Roja on their way to glory.
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