Upon first glance, Arsenal's squad for their pre-season training camp in Germany brought about very few surprises.
Aside from Runar Alex Runarsson, the usual suspects have all made the trip including £65million summer signing Kai Havertz and Fabio Vieira who has recovered from the medical issue that forced him to withdraw from the Portugal squad for the U21 European Championships.
With regard to absences, explanations are pretty straightforward. Matt Turner is still away on international duty with the USMNT, Emile Smith Rowe and Nuno Tavares are both on holiday after representing England U21s and Portugal U21s respectively over the past fortnight.
Meanwhile, Nicolas Pepe appears to be working on his fitness elsewhere and Albert Sambi Lokonga - who has only recently returned to the Gunners after a short-term loan spell with Crystal Palace last season - has taken to social media to reveal why he's not made the trip to Germany either
"Due to a small muscular injury, I’ll sadly not be part of the summer camp with the team in Germany," he wrote on Instagram. "I'm focus (sic) now on my recovery to prepare the season and be ready to help the team at my fullest capacity."
The other Arsenal senior player who does not appear to have travelled to Germany is goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo. Despite featuring against Watford at the weekend, he was not spotted warming up alongside the aforementioned Runarsson, Aaron Ramsdale or fellow youngster Karl Hein.
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Now, this could be significant as there is interest in the 21-year-old, who has just 12 months remaining on his contract at the Emirates Stadium - with Sturm Graz keen to bring him back for a second loan spell after an impressive stint during the second half of last season.
"We are still in the running for another loan, but there are also inquiries for him on the English market," Sturm Graz director Andreas Schicker confirmed last month, as per Austrian news site Laola1. "The tendency for goalkeepers is also young and capable of development."
So perhaps Arsenal have quietly decided to let Okonkwo leave this summer and not taking him on tour could indicate that a move is close to completion considering Mikel Arteta has opted to include Runarsson in the travelling squad despite the Iceland international not having a future at the club.
All things considered, as Okonkwo is behind Ramsdale, Turner and Hein in the goalkeeping pecking order at the moment, it would be beneficial for his development to leave this summer one way or another thus becoming the fourth senior player to exit after Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Pablo Mari and Granit Xhaka.
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