Arsenal have been out of Premier League action for some time following their slender victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The Gunners did not take to the pitch at the weekend, with their opponents Chelsea in Club World Cup action, so have been handed some more time to prepare for their next game.
That is exactly what they have been doing as Mikel Arteta gets his squad prepared for this weekend’s showdown with Brentford at the Emirates Stadium.
Having lost the reverse game against the Bees on the opening weekend of the season, the Gunners will of course be aiming to avoid a repeat.
Here are the things we have noticed from the Gunners’ latest training session with just a few days left to go until the game.
Wilshere still involved amid transfer talk
Former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere is running out of time to secure a move before the end of the 2021/22 season.
The Englishman has been training with the Gunners for the majority of the campaign in an effort to keep up his fitness.
football.london understands that he has interest in his services with the likes of Serie B side Como and several Greek Super League outfits eyeing a move. However, a move to the latter looks unlikely with the free agent window set to close on Tuesday evening.
Wilshere himself doesn’t appear to be rushing into any decision having once again been in the thick of the action during the Gunners latest training session.
Whether that indicates a move is not particularly imminent remains to be seen.
Tierney a notable absence
Whilst Wilshere was once again playing a full part in training, one man who wasn’t pictured was Scottish left-back Kieran Tierney.
Usually with a cold and rainy session taking place, the Celtic man would usually be in the thick of the action in just a t-shirt and shorts but that is not the case this time.
It of course could just be a coincidence on the photographer’s part but every other member of Arsenal’s regular starting XI appears to be present and correct.
Any injury would be a huge blow to Arteta’s side, with Tierney having played every minute of the last nine Premier League games and turned in some hugely impressive performances.
Youngsters handed opportunity to impress
Arsenal are certainly no strangers to a number of youngsters forging a name for themselves in the first-team. Of the current crop, the likes of Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe have become key cogs in the way the side operates.
Ahead of Brentford a number of other promising youngsters have seemingly been handed the opportunity to test themselves.
Young defender Mazeed Ogungbo and midfielder Mauro Bandeira are among those to have been handed a role in training so could well be in consideration for the upcoming Brentford clash - whatever capacity that may be in.
Neither of the pair have been handed a first-team appearance as of yet so could maybe be ones to watch for the future.