Gabriel injury latest, Rodrygo transfer chance and Eberechi Eze question marks

Arsenal are closing in on the conclusion of their summer pre-season tour of Asia, and the day has arrived when the Gunners will take on their North London rivals, Tottenham, in Hong Kong. Viktor Gyokeres could feature after Mikel Arteta confirmed the striker would be assessed ahead of the game.

However, the games are still taking place with the background of the summer transfer window ongoing. Arsenal are not understood to be finished in their business and could yet both sign and sell some stars.

Therefore, with transfers and fixtures in the limelight, it felt like the time for a Q&A session with our chief Arsenal correspondent, Tom Canton. Here are some of the highlights.

Question: What is the situation with Riccardo Calafiori and his latest injury? Will he be ready for the start of the Premier League season? And what about Gabriel Magalhaes, when will we see him?

Tom Canton: So, the latest we have from Mikel Arteta is that he is not ready yet to be involved and that tomorrow's game is "a bit early." Language like that being used by the manager will not be a welcome relief, but it hopefully does dissuade some from fearing the worst for the Italian. Considering his history, I imagine they're just taking things extra seriously.

With Gabriel Magalhaes, Arteta again only said the game comes too soon. The Brazilian has not been spotted in training, and after we were told it was just a tweak he had felt, his absence is definitely a concern.

Arsenal would have hoped to have him available for the game against Manchester United, but his absence here makes that increasingly unlikely. Hopefully, he can play some part in the friendlies in London next week.

Question: How much attention should we pay to the viral clips of Viktor Gyokeres in training?

Tom Canton: It is, of course, great to see the Swedish striker in training and scoring goals of different types. The roar from the fans watching on in Hong Kong was quite the spectacle.

However, this is just training, and it will not be until we see Gyokeres in a competitive scenario playing for the club that we will have the chance to see him in action and judge him more accurately. So I would say, be excited, but don't let it change how excited you were before.

Question: Is there a chance that, if those players who are supposedly up for sale all leave, Arsenal could sign Eze and a big left winger?

Tom Canton: I believe the left winger signing is predicated on the exit of one of the two existing players in that role, Leandro Trossard or Gabriel Martinelli.

Arsenal's interest in Eze is separate from those two but would also rely, at the moment, on some outgoings such as Vieira, Nelson, Lokonga, etc. If Arsenal can move some of those players on, a move for Eze becomes far more likely—the same as it would for Rodrygo if a move for Trossard/Martinalli happened.

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