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Football London
Football London
Sport
Chris Wheatley

Four things noticed in Arsenal's photocall as Mesut Ozil makes an appearance

Arsenal players took part in their first team photocall earlier this month.

The Gunners were forced to take a different approach this year due to the coronavirus pandemic putting a delay on timings.

Fifteen players have either left the club or been sent out on loan since former head coach Unai Emery's first photocall in 2018, which shows just how many changes have occurred at Arsenal in a relatively short space of time.

"Traditonally, we usually have the men's first team photocall after transfer deadline day in September but of course we had to postpone that this year", said Dan Tolhurst, Arsenal's Head of Communications.

"This year we're doing it slightly differently. We're shooting from a cherry picker, all the players are going to be socially distanced. This is because this time will be out of the player's usual training schedule."

football.london picks out four things we noticed about the socially-distanced shoot.

Where's Emile?

Emile Smith Rowe has been been missing through injury over the past few weeks but there was a simple explanation behind the 20-year-old not being included in the photo.

Emile Smith Rowe has not appeared in Arsenal's team photo for the 2020-21 season. (Getty Images 2020.)

Smith-Rowe featured for Arsenal Under-23s on the same day as he scored a brace in the 6-0 win over Blackburn.

Leaders at the front

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Granit Xhaka, Hector Bellerin and Alexandre Lacazette are considered the leaders in Mikel Arteta's squad and they were all pictured together in the front row.

Granit Xhaka looks on at captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

"Yeah, he's a natural leader," Arteta said of Xhaka last season.

"He's someone who is always 1,000 per cent committed, not just for himself but to help all his teammates all the time. I'm happy that you can hear him more now!"

Mesut Ozil's first appearance of the season

He may not be included in the Premier League or Europa League squads this season, but Mesut Ozil still took part in the photocall alongside fellow exiled squad member Sokratis.

The German international is expected to stay at Arsenal until his contract expires next summer and has been training as normal with the first team over the international break.

Similarly, William Saliba made it into the photocall after his loan move to Saint Etienne broke down on transfer deadline day.

Saliba has played for Arsenal Under-21s and Under-23s this season and is expected to be sent out on loan to aid his transition in January.

Trophies on show

It's been a couple of years since trophies have been on show in the first team photocall.

After Mikel Arteta picked up two pieces of silverware in his first few months as manager, they took pride of place at the front of the photo.

One FA Cup, a Community Shield and the Spaniard will hope further honours are to come as he looks to build on the progress the Gunners made last season.

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