Arsenal’s pre-season preparations are ramping up, after completing the signing of Riccardo Calafiori and beating Manchester United 2-1 in a friendly over the weekend.

Italian defender Calafiori has been the main target for the Gunners this summer after an impressive display at the European Championships in Germany.

And the 22-year-old joined up with the team in the United States on Monday to get straight into the action.

Arsenal have a roster of excellent defenders but bolstering the options at left-back, which was a heavily rotated position last year, and adding depth at centre-half puts the team in a strong position to cope with injuries and be adaptable to specific match-ups.

Mikel Merino, having helped Spain win the Euros, appears to be next on the list as Mikel Arteta and Edu look to strengthen the midfield amid the impending departure of Emile Smith Rowe to Fulham.

Physicality has been one of the defining features of Arteta’s latest Arsenal side and the 6ft 2in midfielder typifies that, offering a similar physical profile to Declan Rice.

If the move were to go through, it would free Rice up to return to defensive midfield or provide a solid rotation option to give Rice and captain Martin Odegaard more rest this season.

Over the weekend, the Gunners beat Manchester United 2-1 in their third pre-season game, overcoming the Red Devils through Gabriel Martinelli’s late strike.

The Brazilian put in a lively cameo, looking sharp and back to his physical best – hopefully that continues into the season.

And his fellow countryman Gabriel Jesus also got on the scoresheet, tapping home a cross from youngster Ethan Nwaneri, with both impressing throughout the opening games.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Jesus make the starting line-up against Wolves in the Premier League opener with Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka returning to the squad later due to their involvement at the Euros.

Nwaneri, in particular, is grasping the opportunity with both hands, playing well beyond his years in every game so far, and he’s playing his way into into contention for minutes in the cup games this season with his displays.

After a midweek friendly against Liverpool in the US, the Gunners return to London for the Emirates Cup next week, facing German champions Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday evening.