The first batch of Arsenal first-team squad members returned to training this week, and today saw them make their first forays onto the pitches at London Colney.

Amongst those who participated was Francis Coquelin, back from his difficult loan spell at Freiburg, whilst there were several familiar faces on show including Wojciech Szczesny, Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey, Kieran Gibbs, Carl Jenkinson, Mathieu Flamini, Yaya Sanogo, Nacho Monreal, Gedion Zelalem and Abou Diaby. Tomas Rosicky was surprisingly absent.

With many players afforded extra time off following their World Cup exertions, several players from the development squad also participated, including Chuba Akpom, Ignasi Miquel, Damian Martinez, Isaac Hayden, Jon Toral, Thomas Eisfeld and Hector Bellerin. This group will form the bulk of the squad that will face Boreham Wood and New York Red Bulls in the club’s first two friendlies this Summer.

Serge Gnabry, Ryo and Theo Walcott are all still recovering from injuries suffered last season.

Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Santi Cazorla, whose countries all exited the World Cup in the group stages, are due to return to training later this month, with Joel Campbell, Lukas Podolski, Mesut Ozil, Thomas Vermaelen, Laurent Koscielny and Olivier Giroud scheduled to return in early August.

* Update- Kris Olsson and Julio Pleguezuelo also trained with the first-team today.