Six Arsenal players who are need of a hugely impressive pre-season

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Chuba Akpom

There isn’t only Olivier Giroud in Arsenal’s centre forward ranks. Chuba has been at Arsenal since he was six-years-old, coming through the academy. His brief performances in cup matches and in substitute roles have given hope he could one day cement a place in the team, but inconsistencies have remained a problem. Chuba was sent on loan again last season, despite comments from Wenger saying he might stay and be a part of the squad, and played a part in Hull City’s promotion, scoring a hat-trick in the FA Cup fourth round to set up a tie with Arsenal along the way. The 20-year-old may be still a youngster, but with pressure on Wenger to bring more strikers in, Chuba could find himself forced on loan again if he doesn’t step up this pre-season.

Calum Chambers

The 21-year-old is now entering his third season at Arsenal, after two seasons of performances that saw him in and out of the team. Bought from Southampton, the Englishman started his Arsenal career promisingly, before a natural dip saw him replaced as third choice centre-back by new signing Gabriel. Calum is always a big player in cup matches and also played a role in England’s recent u21 success. The youngster will be looking to cement a regular position in the team, which looks more than likely to be centre-back, but with three players in front of him and now the recent signing of Rob Holding from Bolton adding more competition, Calum could find himself a bit-part player or sent on a loan spell to help his development.

Kieran Gibbs

Another academy player, the 26-year-old is entering his prime as a footballer. Arsenal’s first choice left-back for many years after the sale of Gael Clichy, Kieran was tipped to be the next Ashley Cole, a leader in the Arsenal and England ranks. For many reasons, including the rise of Arsenal’s most consistent performer Nacho Monreal, this hasn’t happened. Kieran has found himself a bit-part player over the last two years, and wasn’t really talked about as a candidate to be England’s left-back at Euro 2016. If this is to change, Kieran needs a big pre-season, especially as Arsenal have been linked to left-backs throughout the transfer window.