Arsenal players 'demanding' early pre-season in bid to end trophy drought, says Mikel Arteta | OneFootball

Gunners will waste no time again this summer after another frustrating campaign without any silverware

Pressure to succeed: Mikel Arteta has seen his Arsenal side fall short on multiple fronts again this season

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Mikel Arteta says Arsenal’s players are demanding that they start pre-season early this summer.

The Gunners kicked off their preparations for last term early when a group of players headed to Marbella in June for a training camp.

Arteta has revealed the squad want to do the same again this summer before they jet off on tour to Hong Kong and Singapore in July.

“The players are demanding it,” said Arteta. “I mean nowadays I think it’s impossible to have four, five, six weeks on your sun bed, putting sun cream [on] and just ordering drinks.

“Then come back, six weeks later and go full gas, tour and play 65 games. I think it’s impossible. Now they demand themselves to be in the best possible condition.

Arsenal will finish this season without a trophy once again and their last major piece of silverware came back in 2020, when they won the FA Cup.

Trophyless: Declan Rice has yet to win any silverware during his time at Arsenal

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Arteta, however, is determined that his side finish the season strongly as they go into their two final games of the campaign.

The Gunners are currently second in the Premier League but just two points clear of Newcastle, who they host on Sunday.

“It’s been a phenomenal effort from all of them [the Arsenal players],” said Arteta.

“It’s our last home game, as you said. It’s always a very special occasion. It’s our chance as well to wrap up the Champions League, to put ourselves in a really strong position for second place.

“And as well in a way to say thank you again to all of our supporters for the amazing season that they’ve been in every journey, in every ground, making the effort to travel with us everywhere and at home as well.

“And it’s the biggest, I think one of the best days in the season, when you have to just say thank you to them and they can say what they feel as well about the team.”