Arsenal have travelled home from Hong Kong following their pre-season tour of Asia, with Mikel Arteta’s squad set to step up their preparations for the upcoming Premier League campaign.
The Gunners travel to the north-west to take on Manchester United in their opening game of the new season in just two weeks.
Equipped with six new signings, Mikel Arteta will hope to launch another assault on the Premier League title, after his side finished second for the third consecutive year last term.
Arsenal were beaten 1-0 by Tottenham on Thursday in their most recent friendly encounter, and will certainly need to perform much better than they did in that clash moving forward, if they are to fulfil their trophy aspirations.
Gabriel Heinze has made a ‘big impression’ at Arsenal
Carlos Cuesta left Arsenal to become the head coach of Serie A side Parma earlier this summer.
The young coach had been a key figure in the Arsenal dressing room, helping guide several Gunners players in recent years, developing them as players.
His exit was a blow for Arteta and the Spaniard’s squad, and his replacement was going to need to have the ability to be as impactful as the prodigy manager.
Arsenal appointed Gabriel Heinze, former Real Madrid and Argentina defender, as Cuesta’s successor.
The outspoken coach immediately commenced his role from the beginning of pre-season, and has been helping Arteta’s players on tour.
Heinze is known to be a feisty character and, according to the Athletic, has already made a ‘big impression’ on the training ground.
The publication’s report on Arsenal’s pre-season tour describes Heinze as ‘forthright, direct and frequently loud’, an approach that certain players relish, while others have had to adjust.
While this type of man-management can often lead to disagreements or flare-ups on the training ground, certain Gunners players arguably need a more frank and candid character coaching them.
Gabriel Heinze has been helping Myles Lewis-Skelly develop
Earning 72 caps for Argentina, whilst enjoying illustrious spells at Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Manchester United, Heinze is certainly qualified to tell players how they can improve.
An exceptional left-back in his day, the coach has spent time working one-on-one with Myles Lewis-Skelly.
The Hale End graduate enjoyed an exceptional breakthrough campaign last season, but hasn’t been raised as a left-back, and could still improve certain aspects of his game.
The Athletic report that Heinze has worked with Lewis-Skelly on improving the youngster’s defensive strategy over recent weeks.
In the opening training session in Singapore before the Newcastle match, Heinze was practicing defending diagonal balls with the 18-year-old.
This should be hugely beneficial to Lewis-Skelly as he looks to further develop in his second season in senior football.
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