Arsenal may have to wait until Friday night to kick off their 2022/23 campaign, but for a number of the club's loan army, the season is already underway.
It has been a busy summer transfer window for the Gunners thus far, but it's not just new signings that has been the focus as many senior and academy players have been allowed to depart - albeit temporarily - either to put themselves in the shop window for next summer or gain valuable first-team experience this season.
As things stand, Arsenal have as many as 11 players out on loan and with the transfer window open for another month, that number is expected to increase as manager Mikel Arteta and technical director Edu make some key decisions. With that said, football.london takes a look at how the loanees fared over the weekend.
READ MORE: What Arsenal have done to accelerate Nicolas Pepe transfer as club-record signing faces exit
The weekend saw action in the EFL get underway which meant there were debuts for four Arsenal players including goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo who was in goal for League Two side Crewe Alexandra - 24 hours after sealing his move - in their 2-1 win over Rochdale.
In League One, Tyreece John-Jules was a second half substitute as Ipswich Town drew 1-1 with Bolton Wanderers, whilst in the Championship, Harry Clarke's Stoke City were beaten 2-0 by Milwall and January signing Auston Trusty's first taste of English football saw him help Birmingham City keep a clean sheet away at Luton Town.
City head coach John Eustace was delighted with the point and singled out his defence for praise, delivering an encouraging one-word verdict on Trusty's debut: "We have done a lot of defensive work, we have some fantastic defenders at the Club. I thought the back five were magnificent today," he said.
"I thought [Auston] Trusty was outstanding, Dion [Sanderson] was outstanding, [Marc] Roberts was outstanding. The wing-backs were good and big John [Ruddy] was in the box there at the end, you really saw his experience coming out today."
Goalkeeper Ovie Ejeheri has to wait a few more days to wait until he can make his Chelmsford City debut, whilst young defender Alex Kirk was an unused substitute as Scottish Championship side Ayr United began their season with a goalless draw at home to Arbroath and Ryan Alebiosu started Kilmarnock's 1-1 draw with Dundee United.
Three of the remaining five Arsenal loanees are spread out in the Netherlands. Mika Biereth 's RKC Waalwijk completed their preparations with a 1-1 draw against Cambuur, Nikolaj Moller's Den Bosch were beaten 3-2 by Almere and Omar Rekik featured for Sparta Rotterdam in their 3-1 win over Emmen.
In Spain, Marcelo Flores was involved as Real Oviedo drew 0-0 with Deportivo Alaves and a day removed from sealing his move to Marseille saw Nuno Tavares make his first appearance for the club as he replaced former Gunners left-back Sead Kolasinac in the second half against AC Milan.
The 22-year-old had a 'brilliant debut' according to @Lhastim3 on Twitter with a nutmeg the highlight of the Portugal U21 international's night, but his first outing for the Ligue 1 outfit almost ended in disaster as he was shown a red card two minutes after coming on, although the decision was overturned by VAR.
READ NEXT:
Arsenal news and transfers LIVE: Cody Gakpo update, Medical booked, Nicolas Pepe exit, Leno move
Why Oleksandr Zinchenko got angry as Gabriel Jesus sets the tone for exciting new Arsenal era
Former Manchester United star delivers huge Arsenal prediction amid Jurgen Klopp praise
Arsenal reach 'full agreement' for Bernd Leno as goalkeeper set for exit after Fulham medical
Cody Gakpo transfer stance revealed amid Arsenal links as Jarrod Bowen alternative emerges
