5 things spotted from Arsenal training including Saka warning and Arteta test
Mikel Arteta and Arsenal's fans will be after an immediate response this weekend as the Gunners host Brentford in the Premier League.
The league leaders lost for just the second time all season last weekend, with lowly Everton shocking them at Goodison Park. The damage could have been greater if challengers Manchester City hadn't lost at Tottenham the following day, but their lead remains at five points.
Arsenal's 3-0 win at Brentford in September was one of their more impressive displays on the road this season, but Arteta's team won't be resting on their laurels. Here's what Mirror Football noticed from the new footage from some of the week's training sessions.
1. Arteta's test
If we've learned anything from watching Arsenal under Mikel Arteta, it's that the manager loves his attention to detail. The former midfielder can regularly be seen reacting when things aren't done to his exact specifications, but is also prepared to throw in the occasional surprise just to see how his players react.
In this instance, Arteta can be seen throwing a second ball into the mix so the players were forced to play with two. It's safe to say they weren't great at it.
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Mikel Arteta put Arsenal's players through their paces (Arsenal TV)It might not just be about the specific reaction, though. Brentford could well deliver a surprise or two at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, and the players on the home team will need to be ready for anything.
2. Saka's warning
Bukayo Saka has been near-unstoppable this season, helping Arsenal's title push take shape. You only need to look at the number of opponents targeting the England star - or the number of teams prepared to double up on him - to see that.
In the video shared by Arsenal's media team, Saka can be heard shouting "I'm coming" before flying in to win the ball. The clip also shows the Gunners' number seven scoring in a training match - something he'll hope to repeat in a competitive scenario against the Bees.
Bukayo Saka has been playing with confidence this season (Arsenal TV)Saka's activity points to a player high on confidence despite his failure to score at Everton. He only has one goal since the turn of the year, but registered two assists away at Brentford in September and will surely be relishing the upcoming match-up.
3. Zinchenko welcomes Jorginho
The defeat at Everton won't have been what Jorginho wanted from his Arsenal debut. A deadline day signing from Chelsea, the Italy international got his first half-hour as a replacement for Thomas Partey in the defeat at Goodison Park.
Jorginho is looking to be involved again for his new club (Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)With the fixtures coming thick and fast, the new arrivals will need to settle quickly. That means Leandro Trossard and Jakub Kiwior as well as Jorginho, though it remains to be seen how many will feature against Brentford and for how long.
In photos released by the club, summer signing Oleksandr Zinchenko can be seen getting up close and personal with his new team-mate on the training ground, with Jorginho looking deep in focus before eventually letting a smile run across his face. If the new man can adapt anywhere near as quickly as Zinchenko, it will be just what Arsenal need.
4. The motto in the gym
Arsenal's players have been involved in conditioning work ahead of the Brentford game (Arsenal TV)'To win the big things, take care of the little things'. Those are the words seen on the wall of the gym. Nearby, there are the words 'preparation breeds confidence'.
Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised, then, to see a focus on conditioning in the video. The most intense conditioning is unlikely to have come from Friday's session, with that kind of work rarely employed so close to a match, but the fact that it is a focus for Arteta's team is telling.
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Towards the end of the 2021-22 season, injuries to players in key areas ended up derailing Arsenal's push for fourth place. With more at stake, and with more games in Europe to come alongside the league run-in, they'll be desperate to ensure history doesn't repeat itself.
5. Youngsters involved again
Amario Cozier-Duberry and Matt Smith have been involved in Arsenal training (Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)Back in September, Arsenal made history away to Brentford by bringing on Ethan Nwaneri. The academy talent became the Premier League's youngest ever player when he came on as a late substitute at the age of just 15.
While Nwaneri hasn't added to that brief league run-out, Arteta has continued to call youngsters into his squads. Amario Cozier Duberry was among the substitutes at Everton, and the 17-year-old was involved in sessions this week.
Other Hale End graduates spotted on the training ground include Matt Smith and Catalin Cirjan. Both have featured for the under-21s this term but have yet to feature for the senior side.
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