ARSENAL will kick off their pre-season with a tour of Asia, including a north London derby against Tottenham some 6,000 miles from home.

The Gunners’ Far East exploits get underway on Wednesday, July 23, when they tackle AC Milan at the National Stadium in Singapore.

Then comes back-to-back games against familiar foes, starting when Arsenal return to the National Stadium to play Newcastle United on Sunday, July 27.

Mikel Arteta’s side then head to Hong Kong to finish the tour against rivals Tottenham at Kai Tak Sports Park on Thursday, July 31.

All sounds a little too soon to be talking about next season?

Well, then hold onto your hats because the Premier League fixtures for the 2025-26 campaign will be released in less than two weeks – so have your highlighters ready for Wednesday, June 18, at 9am.

The action returns with a single fixture played on Friday, August 15, while the season concludes on Sunday, May 24.

With dates for the diary taking shape, what die-hard Gooners really want to know now is what new names will be available for the backs of their shirts?

Fans’ frustrations are growing as it feels like there’s more dawdling than determination to get deals done.

One player who did seem destined for the Emirates has played down any talk of done deals. Arsenal are still believed to be close to signing Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi after triggering the midfielder’s £51million release clause.

But insisting that his future is still undecided, Zubimendi, who is currently with the Spain squad ahead of their National League semi-final against France, told Radio Nacional de Espana: “Of course there are options, but it’s true that it seems like it’s going to be a different, long summer, and I don’t know how it will end.

“I don’t think thinking about it right now is my priority. I’m here with the national team, which is already quite demanding, and if I have to say something, then I will.”

Last week, Zubimendi posted a picture on social media from a beach in San Sebastian amid reports that he was undergoing his Arsenal medical. The 26-year-old has since revealed it was a calculated move, explaining: “It’s an example of what surrounds football. Many times I wake up in the morning and read things that I didn’t know I had done.

“It’s true that I don’t take it very seriously, but anyway, I uploaded those photos to emphasise a little that it wasn’t exactly the reality that was happening.”