Arsenal for their pre-season campaign up and running as they picked up a draw against Championship side Watford.
Arsenal salvaged a late draw thanks to Marquinhos as they look to put their failed title challenge behind them for the 2023/24 Premier League season.
There’s not much that needs reading into, but it’s a good indicator of who might be involved over the coming weeks as Mikel Arteta runs the rule over his players.
Arteta deployed his tried and tested back four as Gabriel partnered Rob Holding in the centre of defence, with Ben White at right back, and Cedric on the left.
Reiss Nelson, who has recently penned a new deal in north London, featured alongside January signing Leonardo Trossard. Youngsters Myles Lewis-Skelly and Mauro Bandeira were also given minutes by Arteta.
Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah, the club’s two current main forward options, both started the game in attack. Jesus struggled with injury at times last season and depending on the role Arteta has for Kai Havertz, his starting berth as a central striker could be under threat.
What did we learn about about Arsenal after their draw with Watford?
There’s plenty of depth that still needs to come into the team, as well as the potential incomings of Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber.
William Saliba also didn’t feature in the game, with Havertz also missing out giving a sense of there’s certainly more to come from Arsenal over the next few weeks.
Not only that, but youngsters like Bandiera and Lewis-Skelly getting game time will give additional squad options for games that allow for the introduction of fringe players like cup games.
With Marquinhos showing his quality, Arteta is sure to give the Brazilian more game time after an up-and-down spell at Norwich City on loan last season.
With it being the first game of pre-season, there’s not an awful lot that can be taken from the game but it does show as a highlight to the quality that Arteta has at his disposal next season.
