ARSENAL were quick to reject Aston Villa’s audacious £25million bid for Emile Smith Rowe yesterday (Wednesday).

The creative midfielder has become hot property after an impressive breakthrough season last term, in which he scored four goals and registered seven assists in 33 appearances under Mikel Arteta.

The Gunners, however, have no intention of selling their 20-year-old Hale End academy graduate, and are in fact looking to extend his current contract which runs until the summer of 2023.

Arsenal had a bid of their own turned down yesterday after bidding around £40m for Brighton and Hove Albion defender Ben White.

Talks between the two clubs are ongoing, with the Gunners expected to go back with an improved offer for the 23-year-old centre-back in the coming days.

Meanwhile, Arsenal have been handed a daunting start to the new season, with games against Chelsea and Manchester City in the opening three weeks. With the European Championships in full swing, and all eyes on England’s clash with Scotland at Wembley tomorrow (Friday), it almost seems silly to think about domestic duties.

But in just over eight weeks’ time the Premier League returns and, as it stands, scores of fans will be back in stadiums to cheer on the action.

It is not yet known how many supporters will be allowed to attend the opening matches, but the Premier League has said it is “committed to the ambition of having full stadiums, including away supporters” from the start of the season.

There is a hint of romance to Arsenal’s opening fixture on Saturday, August 14, as they travel to newly-promoted Brentford. The Bees will certainly boast a sting in their tail as they celebrate their first game back in the top-flight since the 1946-47 season.

And from there things will only get tougher for the Gunners, who stay in the capital in week two for another London derby as Chelsea visit the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal will be without European football for the first time since 1996, giving boss Mikel Arteta plenty of time to prepare for matches – including his reunion with Pep Guardiola on August 28 when the north Londoners travel to Manchester City.

Another date quickly etched in fans’ diaries is September 25 when Arsenal entertain Spurs in the first north London derby of the season.

The reverse fixture at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has been pencilled in for January 15.

For Spurs supporters the summer can’t end quickly enough as they continue to live with constant speculation regarding the future of England captain Harry Kane.