Noni Madueke cut short his holiday and returned to training last week, eager to hit the ground running at Arsenal.
Madueke joined the Gunners earlier this summer from Chelsea in a deal that could eventually be worth £52million.
The 23-year-old featured for Chelsea at the Club World Cup earlier this summer and, as a result, was not part of Arsenal’s pre-season tour of Asia.
Madueke had been keen to join the squad for the games in Singapore and Hong Kong, but Arsenal advised him to rest and be ready for the upcoming season.
“With Noni it wasn’t possible because he needed some time, and he’s going to take a short vacation,” Mikel Arteta said last month. “He said he wants to join straight away, as soon as we are back.”
Madueke trained with his individual coach, Saul Isaksson-Hurst, during his holiday and is understood to have returned from his break a week early.
The England international was back in training last week, ahead of the rest of the Arsenal squad rejoining him this week.
Arsenal flew back from Hong Kong after their game against Tottenham last Thursday, with the players given a few days off before returning to training on Monday.
Arteta’s side have two friendlies at Emirates Stadium this week - facing Villarreal on Wednesday and Athletic Club at the weekend.
Madueke will hope to make his Arsenal debut in one of those matches, with the Gunners’ Premier League campaign kicking off next week at Old Trafford.
Arsenal moved for Madueke this summer to add competition on both flanks.
The winger played predominantly on the right for Chelsea but is capable of operating on the left - as he did for England during two games in June.
