Arsenal fans now have just one more week of nail biting and tension to endure before we know that all of our players will be ready for the big push for the Premier League title next season. If all goes well, this time next week will see an injury free Alexis Sanchez celebrating a Copa America triumph with his Chile team mates and heading for a richly deserved summer holiday.
But the Gunners´ young German forward and winger, Serge Gnabry, was the latest one of our players to suffer disappointment this summer. Just like our England international defender Calum Chambers, Gnabry had no chance to help Germany avoid a hefty 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Portugal, as he was an unused sub in Germany´s final game of the under 21 Euro championship.
We will have to hope that Chambers and Gnabry can put their international disappointment to one side, or even better use it to spur them on to greater efforts in club football. At least they will be fit and fresh for Arsenal and I am sure that both young Gunners will be keen to make their mark on the first team.
It has hardly been a great summer for them as they may as well have been off on a beach somewhere. At least our right back Carl Jenkinson played every minute for the England under 21 side and he was one of the few bright spots in England´s latest tournament failure. That should do Jenks a lot of good as he looks set to spend another season on loan, where he should get plenty of first team football.
As long as Alexis gets through the next two Chile games unscathed though, I reckon we can be fairly pleased about the summer and optimistic about Arsenal´s chances in the coming months.