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Arsenal enjoyed a remarkable season in the Premier League this year, which saw them hold onto top spot for a record 248 days before a late-season collapse allowed the imperious Manchester City to claim their third straight title.

The Gunners started last season with a string of pre-season victories in the United States against Chelsea and Everton, and fans will be hoping another American tour this summer can inspire the team to another title challenge come August.

What are Arsenal's 2023 pre-season fixtures?

The club have confirmed three pre-season fixtures so far, but if last season is anything to go by, we should expect them to start pre-season with a behind-closed-doors friendly and end it with the Emirates Cup.

The confirmed fixtures from the Arsenal official site.

Arsenal v MLS All-Stars, July 14th, kick-off: 04:30 BST Arsenal v Manchester United, July 22nd, kick-off: 22:00 BST Arsenal v Barcelona, July 26th, kick-off: TBC Where are Arsenal playing their pre-season fixtures?

For a second year running, the Gunners will be heading to the United States of America for the bulk of their pre-season, playing their three games in three different cities.

Arteta's men will kick off their tour against the MLS All-Stars at Washington DC's Audi Field. The game won't be easy for the boys in red and white, and there should be some added excitement due to ex-Manchster United legend Wayne Rooney managing the American side.

After the announcement, Rooney expressed his excitement to ESPN: "The opportunity to lead the best our league has to offer against a top Premier League club like Arsenal will be a highlight for me personally and an unforgettable experience for our passionate fanbase here in DC."

Arsenal's next game, against Manchester United, will occur in the city that never sleeps, New York. The venue for this all-English affair will be the massive Met Life stadium, home to the New York Jets NFL team.

The final game of the tour against La Liga champions Barcelona takes the north Londoners to the West Coast. Los Angeles's SoFi stadium will play host to the two teams.

SoFi stadium is owned by Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke and is the home of his Super Bowl winning NFL team, the LA Rams.

Can I buy tickets for the games?

Tickets for the first game of the tour against Rooney's MLS All-Stars are still available on Ticketmaster, but with the cheapest tickets priced at £202, it certainly isn't for the faint of heart.

Ticketmaster is also selling tickets to the game against Manchester United, with these ones being somewhat cheaper at around £136.

Those who fancy a trip to Los Angeles to see the Gunners take on the Blaugrana can expect to pay the least with Ticketmaster pricing tickets from £86.

Can I watch the games on TV in the UK?

Arsenal are yet to announce details on how fans can watch the club's matches whilst on tour, but if the last few years are anything to go by, the club will likely charge fans on a per-game basis through their own in-house media.

Fans have also been able to watch extensive highlights through Arsenal's YouTube channel during recent tours.

When does Arsenal's Premier League season start?

The Premier League season is scheduled to start on August 12th 2023, just 17 days after Arsenal's final pre-season game against Barcelona.

Arteta and co will undoubtedly have one eye on the season proper whilst in the USA.

Who is likely to go on the USA tour?

Arteta will likely bring the whole first-team squad to undergo as much preparation as possible before mounting another challenge for the Premier League title. Some of the youngsters that can expect a place on the plane would be Reuell Walters, Catalin Cirjan, Amario Cozier-Duberry and the forgotten Marquinhos. Additionally, if Edu conducts the club's transfer business similarly to last year, we could see some summer signings make their debuts in the US, looking at you, Declan Rice.

Glasgow Rangers finished their final match at Ibrox in the 2022/23 Scottish Premiership campaign with a 2-2 draw against Hearts on Wednesday night.

Lawrence Shankland scrambled the ball into the back of the net inside the opening minute of the match and had VAR to thank as they overruled the linesman's offside decision in order to award the goal.

The Light Blues struggled to break Hearts down for the majority of the first half but eventually found their equaliser through Todd Cantwell as the midfielder rode a challenge in the middle of the park before bursting through to slot a brilliant left-footed shot into the bottom corner.

Michael Beale's team then started the second half with a bang as Fashion Sakala capitalised on a mistake at the back to prod the ball into the back of the net in the 47th minute.

Despite the home side's dominance, Hearts were able to find an equaliser in the 94th minute of the game as Ryan Jack's poor attempt at a clearance resulted in Garang Kuol prodding the ball past Allan McGregor.

How did James Tavernier perform against Hearts?

Beale will surely be frustrated with the way that his side failed to pick up all three points and the head coach was let down by one of his star performers as captain James Tavernier put in a rare shocker at right-back.

The Englishman has averaged a terrific Sofascore rating of 7.65 in the Premiership this season – the highest of any player in the squad – but recorded a score of 6.7 on Wednesday night, which is his lowest rating since he received a 6.5 against Kilmarnock in January.

This shows that it was an out-of-character display from the skipper, who did not show his usual quality in or out of possession for the side.

As per Sofascore, the right-back lost the ball a whopping 28 times from 95 touches and failed with ten of his 11 attempted crosses. Whereas, he has averaged 22.9 losses of possession and completed 30% of his crosses over the course of the league season, which suggests that he was not at his usual level in the final third.

This means that he wasted too many opportunities to create chances for his teammates with the space that was afforded to him on the right flank, which resulted in Rangers being unable to kill the game off at 2-1 and presented the opposition with encouragement to go on and snatch a draw.

Defensively, Tavernier was also dribbled past twice – 1.1 more times than his average per game – and was caught out for the opening goal inside the first minute of the match as his poor headed clearance allowed Shankland to give Hearts the lead.

Instead of clearing the ball from danger, he caused chaos in his own box and that left Rangers chasing the game almost immediately.

Therefore, the 31-year-old cost Beale dearly with his rare shocker at both ends of the pitch and the head coach will be hoping that this level of performance does not become a regular occurrence heading into the 2023/24 campaign.

Liverpool's woes have been well-documented this season and the prestigious Premier League outfit will be scouring the transfer market for signings to bolster the ranks and ascend to prominence once more this summer.

The Reds have fallen by the wayside this term and have struggled to replicate previous feats under manager Jurgen Klopp's galvanising leadership.

The dynasty that has been crafted has indeed returned Liverpool to the front of the European pack, with every major honour – barring the Europa League – gleaned during the German's tenure.

This season, inexplicably, this squad of proven winners have failed to exude half the previous confidence and swagger, and despite constructing a six-match winning streak at this late stage of the campaign, remain outsiders in the race for Champions League football.

Bolstering the ranks is indeed imperative to cementing future success, and as such rumours of interest for Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha could prove to be worthwhile for the return to the top.

According to Football Insider, Aston Villa are willing to meet Fulham's £60m asking price for the Portuguese titan, which could prompt Klopp to ramp up his own interest in the gem and secure the signature of a man who could have a transformative effect on the Anfield midfield.

Should Liverpool sign Joao Palhinha?

The Cottagers completed the signing of Palhinha from Sporting Lisbon for £20m upon their return to the top-flight last year, a transfer for a new midfield anchor which proved to be one of the Premier League summer market's finest moves.

Having made 37 appearances this season, scoring four goals, the 27-year-old has succeeded in leading his side as a talismanic central engine to stability after years of uncertainty, with Fulham indeed perched in tenth place after 35 matches, six points above stricken Chelsea.

As per Sofascore, the 20-cap Portugal international has recorded a 7.05 league rating and has dazzled with his assurance on the ball – completing 84% of his passes – and his tenacity as an unrelenting destroyer – making 4.3 tackles and 1.8 clearances per outing – to provide Fulham with one of the sturdiest protections in the division.

In fact, the £50k-per-week colossus ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's big five leagues for tackles, the top 9% for clearances and the top 8% for aerials won per 90, as per FBref, with journalist Zach Lowy even likening him to imperious Manchester United monster Casemiro.

If Liverpool were to forge ahead with a move, they could seal a bargain new holding midfielder to reignite their cohesion and potency in the centre, with prominent target Declan Rice reportedly available this summer.

According to Sky Sports, the West Ham United man – who is also of interest to Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United – is touted at a jaw-dropping £120m by his outfit, which is double the reported price of Palhinha.

The Portuguese ranks above both Rice and Casemiro for tackles won in the Premier League this season; in fact, Palhinha ranks above everyone: making 139 tackles thus far, and second-placed Brighton & Hove Albion workhorse Moises Caicedo boasts 93, a staggering and commendable gulf.

For such a robust and gritty option in Fulham's "machine", as Palhinha was described by teammate Harrison Reed, to cost so much less than the likes of Rice, it opens the question as to why Liverpool should part with such a considerable sum when wholesale changes are needed immediately.

Palhinha over Rice should be a no-brainer when considering the exorbitant fees thrown around by the Hammers camp.

Arsenal put the pressure back onto Manchester City in the Premier League title race as they recorded a resolute 2-0 victory over third-placed Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon.

Mikel Arteta's side rode an early storm from the Magpies but Martin Odegaard's outside-of-the-box strike from nothing calmed some nerves at St James' Park.

The Gunners were smart with their game management and were rewarded with a stroke of luck when Fabian Schar turned the ball into his own net from a Gabriel Martinelli cross late in the second half.

It means the north Londoners move one point behind the defending champions, who still have a game in hand heading into the final few fixtures of the 2022/23 campaign.

Leading from the front as he often does, Odegaard was at the centre of a real monstrous display up in the northeast and quite rightly will be lauded for his fine work, not to mention his record-breaking moment as it was his 13th goal from open play – the most of any midfielder in the history of the Premier League.

However, he wasn't the only player that ran the show…

How did Jorginho perform vs Newcastle?

A little deeper in midfield was Jorginho, acting as Arteta's beating metronome – calm in possession, rock solid defensively and sold fouls like they were hotcakes.

His experience as a Champions League and Europa League winner was vital, ensuring that his teammates kept their cool from Newcastle's frustrating tactics and that they didn't get too ahead of themselves after opening the scoring.

As per Sofascore, the former Chelsea star led the side for touches (70), accurate passes (44), clearances (three), key passes (two) and assists (one); clearly encompassing an almighty all-round display, one worthy of Egal Talks' accolade of being a midfield "masterclass".

Jorginho also chipped in with three tackles and one interception, whilst he won seven of 11 ground duels, proving to be a real thorn in Eddie Howe's side.

It was a performance that Sky Sports commentator Gary Neville handed the Italian the 'Man of the Match' award "by streets," showing just how impressive he really was in the heart of the pitch.

The 31-year-old, who is valued at around £21m by FootballTransfers, was also hailed as a "baller" by The Athletic's Leyla Hamed, who also suggested that he was the "main man in the first-half," though as it quickly emerged, he was throughout the entire match.

If Arsenal do pull off the unthinkable from here, then the emergence of Jorginho as a key player in these final stages was certainly a big part of the reason why.

The £110k-per-week machine just put in a Rolls-Royce display against a team that has only been beaten by City and Liverpool at home since Howe walked through the door.

Ultimately, he ran the show against the Magpies.

Leeds United have deployed chiefs to watch Strasbourg striker Habib Diallo ahead of a potential move to the Premier League, according to reports.

What's the latest on Diallo's future?

The Whites have Rodrigo out of contract at the end of next season and both Patrick Bamford and Wilfried Gnonto are expected to be sold during the upcoming window should they get relegated, so if that turns out to be the case, Javi Gracia will need to enter the market to find suitable attacking reinforcements, and the 27-year-old has been identified as a potential ideal candidate.

The Senegal international has spent the last three years with Frederic Antonetti's side in Ligue 1 making 98 appearances to date, and his form this season has been particularly eye-catching being the top-performing offensive player and second overall with a WhoScored match rating of 6.97, so despite his contract not expiring until 2025, he's gained himself an admirer in Yorkshire.

According to Football Insider, Leeds are "among" a host of clubs in the Premier League that are "interested" in signing Diallo ahead of the 2023/24 term. The Elland Road outfit are "on the lookout" for a new striker and "sent club scouts" to assess the forward during Strasbourg's 2-1 defeat to Lyon on Friday evening. West Ham United, Leicester City, Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Burnley, who have already sealed their promotion back to the top-flight, also "dispatched" their chiefs to the same game.

Strasbourg "understand" that it will be a hard task to retain the services of their key player and as a result are "resigned" to losing him should they receive "appropriate" bids during the upcoming window. His agent, Mark McKay, has also been given the green-light by the club to offer him to interested suitors.

Should Leeds submit an offer for Diallo?

Leeds won't yet know how much they'll be able to spend in the summer or exactly how much it will cost to prise Diallo away from Strasbourg, but should a deal be affordable to complete, the hierarchy should definitely table an offer to test the waters with their target having been lauded "quality" by Metz's former coach Vincent Hognon.

Predominantly a centre-forward but also with the versatility to play out wide on both the left and right flanks, the £10k-per-week gem has 17 goals to his name in 32 Ligue 1 appearances this season and has recorded a total of 71 shots since the start of the term which is higher than any other of his fellow teammates, as per FBRef, not to mention that he's also collected four man-of-the-match awards during that time.

Finally, Diallo shares the same agent as Weston McKennie, Adam Forshaw, Brenden Aaronson, Sam Greenwood, Luis Sinisterra and Crysencio Summerville, so this existing representative connection could potentially give the Whites an advantage over their fellow competitors in the race to secure his services this summer.

Fulham are closing in on the signing of Torino right-back Ola Aina, who will be available on a free transfer at the end of the season, according to a recent report from Tuttosport.

What's the latest Fulham transfer news?

The Cottagers have little to play for at this stage of the season, given that they are in no danger of being relegated, but in no position to make a late push for Europe, and manager Marco Silva has already started work on improving his squad.

Silva has been handed a boost in his pursuit of PSV Eindhoven midfielder Erick Gutierrez, as it has recently emerged the central midfielder could now be available this summer, while Mateus Uribe could also be targeted in the same position.

Fulham signed Cedric Soares on loan at the end of the January transfer window, however he has struggled for game time since arriving at Craven Cottage, and the club could re-enter the market for a new right-back in the summer market.

According to a report from Tuttosport (via Sport Witness), the Cottagers are insistent on signing Aina in the upcoming window, at which point he is set to leave Torino, upon the expiration of his contract.

The £30k-per-week right-back is one of ten players who are ready to leave the Serie A club at the end of the season, and he is now close to joining Fulham on a free transfer.

The Nigeria international spent the 2020-21 season at Craven Cottage, during which he made 31 appearances in the Premier League, and he now appears to be poised to make a return.

Should Fulham sign Ola Aina?

Fulham fans will know all about the "brilliant" 26-year-old's various qualities, most notably his attacking threat, ranking in the 97th percentile for successful take-ons per 90 in the past year, and in the 87th for progressive carries.

However, the full-back would not be an improvement on Kenny Tete defensively speaking, with Tete averaging far more tackles, interceptions and blocks per 90 in the same time period, while also weighing in with more assists.

Given Cedric's aforementioned inability to cement a place in the starting XI, it appears unlikely Silva will make a move for the Arsenal man in the summer, and therefore the Cottagers will need a new option at right-back.

However, Aina should only be brought in as a back-up for Tete, rather than as a regular first-team player.

West Ham United are showing an interest in former Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri as a potential replacement for David Moyes, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Moyes under pressure…

Recent reports have suggested that the Irons boss has been under mounting pressure this season, following a string of poor Premier League results.

West Ham, after qualifying for back-to-back European campaigns, have failed to build upon their unexpected success of the previous two seasons – even despite a series of summer investments.

The east Londoners put pen to paper on deals for Alphonse Areola, Nayef Aguerd, Flynn Downes, Gianluca Scamacca, Maxwel Cornet, Thilo Kehrer, Emerson Palmieri and club record signing Lucas Paqueta last year.

Danny Ings also joined the club from Aston Villa in January, yet West Ham’s recent spending has been blighted by both injury issues on the field and general underperforming.

The likes of Rafael Benitez and Marcelo Bielsa have been mentioned as candidates to succeed Moyes in recent months but West Ham have yet to take affirmative action over their manager.

The Latest: West Ham interested in Sarri…

Moyes’ side could well go down at the end of the season if they’re not careful, but despite that, it is now believed they’re showing interest in a title-winning boss.

According to reports out of Italy, by newspaper Il Messagero, West Ham are one of three English clubs currently eyeing Sarri of Lazio – alongside Tottenham and Everton.

The 64-year-old’s relationship with sporting director Igli Tare is believed to be fragile as Sarri seeks reassurances on transfer strategy heading into the summer.

It’s added that Sarri has also just rejected a big-money offer from an unnamed club in the United Arab Emirates.

The Verdict: Surprise choice?

Much could depend on if West Ham are relegated from the top flight as it’s highly unlikely Sarri would be interested in that scenario.

However, if they do in fact remain in the big time, we believe the ex-Juventus coach could be a fairly solid candidate.

Sarri, despite being sacked by Chelsea, did manage to clinch a Europa League title with the Blues during his stint in 2019 and went on to win a Scudetto with Juventus.

The former Napoli boss deploys an attacking 4-3-3 formation, a far cry from Moyes’ more pragmatic style, with his ex-player Jorginho also calling Sarri a ‘magnificent coach’ and ‘extraordinary’ on a tactical level.

Of course, this is all hypothetical, and West Ham’s current priorities must be to remain in the Premier League.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s transfer record at Glasgow Rangers was arguably his biggest downfall in his spell at the club, which ended in November 2022, nearly a year to the day since he was appointed.

Aaron Ramsey and Amad Diallo didn’t have the desired effect having joined on loan for the second half of last season, while all but a few of the Dutchman’s summer incomings have had any sort of success at the Ibrox side.

Antonio Colak and Malik Tillman have shone, yet players such as John Souttar and Tom Lawrence have spent the majority of the campaign on the treatment table.

One of his biggest flops, especially considering the initial financial outlay, has been Welsh winger Rabbi Matondo, who just hasn’t settled in Glasgow, while taking a large wage in the process.

How much has Rabbi Matondo cost Rangers?

Rangers signed the player from German side Schalke last summer in a deal worth around £3m, and with this sort of fee, he was expected to hit the ground running.

The former Manchester City winger had impressed on a season-long loan at Belgian side Cercle Brugge during 2021/2022, registering 11 goal contributions – nine goals and two assists – while averaging 0.9 key passes per game and creating four big chances. These displays led to Van Bronckhorst bringing him to Ibrox, yet he has so far failed to replicate anything like his form last term.

The 22-year-old has started just six Premiership matches, registering only three assists, while his Champions League form was even worse.

In the group stage of Europe’s premier cup competition, Matondo averaged a Sofascore rating of just 6.4/10 across five matches.

He has played just 21 matches in total for the Gers, getting only 838 minutes on the pitch, and he has rinsed the club dry during his 35-week spell so far. Indeed, totalling up his £3m transfer fee along with the reported £28k-per-week wages the youngster is earning, Matondo has cost the club around £4m for his efforts.

It doesn’t take a degree in rocket science to work out that this has not been money well spent. The hype surrounding his arrival faded after the first few months of the season, with the winger not offering much in terms of attacking quality.

Hopefully Beale takes note of his predecessors' transfer failings and looks to only bring high-quality players to the club from now on.

Chelsea face a crunch Premier League encounter on Sunday afternoon, with the west London strugglers travelling to face capital rivals Tottenham Hotspur to try and veer back on course after a woeful run of form under Graham Potter.

Indeed, the two teams hold contrasting fortunes at present, with Spurs perched in fourth place and a remarkable 11 points above their neighbours, who are stranded all the way down in tenth.

Chelsea have won just two of their last 14 matches across all competitions, with owner Todd Boehly and technical director Christopher Vivell organising a crisis meeting earlier this week to devise a solution to the ongoing misfortune.

If any hope of Champions League football next season is to remain, the Blues must look to continue their marvellous record against Spurs – the Blues are eight top-flight games without defeat against the Lilywhites, having won six times and drawn twice.

In order to ensure that his grip on the Stamford Bridge reins does not become even more tenuous, Potter must bin “liability” Marc Cucurella – as dubbed by journalist Josh Bunting – from his pre-game thoughts and continue to unleash Ben Chilwell at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium instead, as his dynamic and robust approach could pay dividends.

Should Chilwell be unleashed v Tottenham?

Chilwell has enjoyed much success at Stamford Bridge since signing from Leicester City in a £50m move  in 2020, but in recent months his progress has been blighted by long-term injury issues, and he has only started five times in the current league campaign.

However, during his time with the Blues, the 26-year-old has made 72 appearances, scoring eight goals and registering ten assists, with a notable triumph in the 2020/21 Champions League, playing a vital role in that success as he started nine times en route to lifting the trophy.

In his first start following his extensive layoff, which came against Southampton last week, the “creative” Chilwell – as dubbed by Nick Emms – impressed despite his team falling to a chastening home defeat against the league’s bottom club, making one tackle and two interceptions and winning six of his eight duels, as per Sofascore.

That vigorous and combative approach could be crucial for Chelsea against Spurs; with the fixture often fiery and tempers flaring, a composed figure to offer an assurance in their challenges will be most welcome for Potter.

Considering that the £190k-per-week Chilwell ranks among the top 18% of full-backs in Europe’s five main leagues for goals per 90, the offensive element of his game could bolster his side’s chances of victory even further.

Should Chelsea fail to secure victory over Tottenham, their run of form would stretch to a mere two wins in 15 games, while defeat would see Spurs move 14 points clear of their London rivals in the Premier League, all but eradicating any slim hope of the Blues mounting a late charge towards Champions League qualification for 2023/24.

It will be tough, and it will require tenacity, but with Chilwell – who has been hailed by some podcasters in the past for his “superlative” ball distribution – potentially offering such an attribute in abundance,  including him might just bear fruit for the Blues as they look to turn the tide on their recent travails.

Glasgow Rangers head coach Michael Beale could have a busy summer ahead of him with a number of changes potentially on the way during the summer transfer window.

A number of first-team players are out of contract at the end of the current campaign and could need to be replaced heading into the 2023/24 season.

One player who is set to be a free agent later this year is Colombian marksman Alfredo Morelos.

The Ibrox star is reportedly attracting interest from teams in Spain, Italy, and Turkey and is said to be in a ‘stand-off’ with the club over a new deal, which has led to a summer transfer being described as ‘more likely than not’.

Will Rangers need to replace Alfredo Morelos?

Morelos has been a key player yet again for the club this season and has been the first-choice at the top end of the pitch under Beale so far – racking up nine goals and four assists in 23 appearances in the Premiership so far.

The 26-year-old has provided quality in the final third on a regular basis, both in terms of scoring and creating goals, and the Light Blues will need to bring another option in to replace his output if the gem departs this summer.

One player the club are reportedly keen on signing is Montenegro international Nikola Krstovic, who was valued at a staggering £45m by Dunajska Streda in an attempt to ward off interest from teams in the January window.

However, it remains to be seen how open they will be to cashing in on him in the summer and the Gers could look to snap him up as the heir to the current striker’s throne at Ibrox, albeit at a much cheaper price.

Krstovic, who was dubbed a “goal machine” and of a “similar mould” to Morelos by a Football Insider journalist, would come in as a player with the potential to be a dream long-term successor to the Colombia international at the age of 22.

He could be a terrific signing in the immediate term as well for the future, with his room and time to grow and develop, as his form this season in Serbia has been extraordinary.

The prolific youngster has plundered nine goals and six assists in 17 league starts last term.

These statistics show that the marksman, who scored 41 goals in 96 appearances for Zeta Golubovac at the start of his career, is a regular goalscorer who can also create chances for his teammates.

Therefore, Krstovic could be the ideal heir to Morelos at Rangers, if the Colombian striker departs this summer, as he could replace the goalscoring and creative output in the final third if the Montenegro international can adjust to Scottish football.