Ben White has handed Arsenal a major fitness boost, with Mikel Arteta confirming more players are on the way back.
The Gunners followed up their behind-closed-doors friendly against MK Dons with a 4-1 win over Girona on Saturday evening, marking their first official pre-season match in style.
Kai Havertz, summer signing Christos Tzolis, Max Dowman and Gabriel Jesus were all on target for an Arsenal side captained by White in the absence of Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice.
It was White’s first outing since sustaining a knee injury towards the end of last season against West Ham, causing him to miss the two remaining Premier League matches and the Champions League final.
However, White came through an hour on Saturday, seemingly unscathed as he returned after the final whistle to lift the Costa Brava trophy aloft.
With Jurrien Timber not quite fit and William Saliba set to be sidelined for the start of the season, White’s availability will be crucial at right-back and possibly as cover in central defence.
Viktor Gyokeres, Havertz and Piero Hincapie were withdrawn after half an hour as part of pre-planned substitutions, while Gabriel and Gabriel Martinelli watched on from the sidelines having joined up with the squad in Spain late in the week.
“I’m very pleased,” Arteta said. “In many aspects, obviously, we have worked on a lot of things this week with a big group of players, with the senior players that we had, with the Brazilians that returned during the week, with a lot of our academy players as well.
“A lot of things that we wanted to test, especially during the game - they were delivered in a brilliant way and overall very happy.”
The Arsenal boss was able to hand minutes to every outfield academy player against Girona and is expecting his options to increase for the showdown against Real Betis in Dublin next week.
He added: “I think they deserved it. The game and the context of the game allowed that to happen, they have been brilliant in the last few weeks with us. What an experience.
“We had to adapt to the conditions, to the pitch, to a lot of things, which is a good test for us as well, to increase our competitive level. But overall, very pleased.
A lot of things that we wanted to test, especially during the game - they were delivered in a brilliant way and overall very happy
Mikel Arteta
“Yes, and we're going to start to get a few more players as well and the players that joined, they look in good shape.
“Obviously, there are a lot of things to evolve and improve as a team, but I think we're in the right direction.”
Arsenal players who were at the World Cup this summer have been given three weeks off following their respective exits, meaning Odegaard’s return to training is imminent.
The Norway captain was part of the side that were beaten by England in the World Cup quarter-finals on July 11, so should join up with the squad shortly, though is unlikely to feature against Betis on Wednesday (August 5).
