The management of Arsenal FC this week welcomed back their players to training with a series of medicine ball-based exercises as they prepare for a busy pre-season schedule. Mail reports that among the early arrivals to the training was new boy, Sead Kolasinac long with the likes of Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott, Danny Welbeck and Francis Coquelin as the Gunners were put through their paces following a summer away from the sport.
Taking to the club gym the Gunners lined up to take it in turns to throw weighted medicine balls against a target and catch it upon return, working on lower body and core muscles in the process. The squad then dived into a variety of gym-based routines, club medical staff giving each player a thorough examination to ascertain their physical condition before training moved out onto the playing field.
Arsene Wenger, fresh off the back of signing a new contract with the Emirates club, watched over the session. Brand new goalkeeping coach Jens Lehmann was also present and wasted no time in getting straight back into his dominant character around the training field. In a week’s time the Gunners will be heading Down Under for the first stage of their hectic pre-season tour. Wenger’s men will come up against Sydney FC in the ANZ Stadium, before heading to the Far East to face Bayern Munich in the International Champions Cup. The Gunners are still on a high after confirming the signing of France international striker Alexandre Lacazette from Lyon in a club-record move.
Lacazette completed his move late on Wednesday afternoon, the official announcement made via a series of video clips on Arsenal’s social media channels. Speaking after putting pen to paper, the striker has made clear his ambition to succeed in the Premier League. ‘Arsenal is the club which plays the best football in England, so I really wanted to come here,’ Lacazette said in an interview with Arsenal Player. ‘When I play I like to use my pace and to link up with my team-mates. As a forward of course I like to score goals, but that is not all that I am about. ‘I want to give 100 per cent in every match. I want to show I am worthy of the shirt. I want to do everything I can to make sure we win titles,’ he added.