Arsenal held their first preseason training session on Tuesday as Arsene Wenger's side begin preparations for what could be his final campaign at the club.
The boys are back!https://t.co/2Sre7V5hBq
- Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) July 5, 2016
The first-team players who are not on international duty trained at London Colney for the first time since early May, with Wenger looking on together with academy head Andries Jonker.
Theo Walcott, Kieran Gibbs and Calum Chambers -- who were all overlooked by Roy Hodgson for England's disappointing campaign at Euro 2016 -- all took part in the session along with the likes of Per Mertesacker, Nacho Monreal, Alex Iwobi and Mohamed Elneny. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was also back after spending much of June recovering from a knee injury.
Feels good being back at the training ground and meeting the team mates again. @Arsenal #COYG pic.twitter.com/6oye6Tvgsy
- Per Mertesacker (@mertesacker) July 5, 2016
Back in pre-season training #AFC #COYG pic.twitter.com/Vefgvog9ZV
- Theo Walcott (@theowalcott) July 5, 2016
Pictures released by Arsenal also showed 18-year-old midfielder Jeff Reine-Adelaide taking part wearing No. 20 -- Mathieu Flamini's old shirt number -- suggesting he will be promoted to the first-team for next season. However, the club said the final squad list has not yet been determined. Flamini was released along with Mikel Arteta and Tomas Rosicky when their contracts expired on June 30.
Reine-Adelaide is one of several Arsenal academy players hoping to emulate Iwobi by breaking into the first-team, after the Nigeria international surprisingly became a regular starter during the spring.
The French teenager has been described as "something special" by Wenger, but had to settle for two FA Cup appearances last season.
Strikers Chuba Akpom and Yaya Sanogo, who both spent last season on loan, also took part in the session along with several academy youngsters.