Mikel Arteta hasn’t had much luck with pre-season during his short managerial career. His first summer break as Arsenal boss was squashed between the extended 2019-20 season and the start of the current campaign, a knock-on effect of the hectic scheduling which has become synonymous with pandemic football.
Meanwhile, the coming pre-season could be disrupted by the rearranged Tokyo Olympics . Brazil have just announced their 23-man squad for the men’s football tournament, with Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli both included.
The Selecao have an excellent record at the Olympics, having won gold at Rio 2016, silver at London 2012 and bronze at Beijing 2008.
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