Five Arsenal players extra keen to impress in pre-season

Arsenal will play in Asia during their pre-season, and their trip could provide chances for fringe players, or those who have not had the chance to show what they can really do so far.

With players joining late with the squad thanks to Euro 2012, and injuries to contend with too, less established members of Arsenal's squad will be hoping to make their mark, along with those who have enjoyed a full summer's rest.

Here are five...

Ryo Miyaichi

Ryo Miyaichi carried on his progress last season with a loan at Bolton, and will be hoping this is the year he makes it into Arsenal's first team. An excellent pre-season would for sure help his case. Japan have omitted him from their Olympic squad, allowing him to focus on Arsenal. He started off superbly at Bolton, but trailed off in April and May, and will want to show he is ready for the rigours of the Premier League. Miyaichi doesn't want two things, (a) to be stuck on the bench at Arsenal all season, and (b) to go out on loan again. He will feel this is the year for him, and if he lays down a marker in pre-season then he will help convince Wenger he is ready.

Johan Djourou

Defender Djourou is not a player Arsenal fans have a great deal of confidence in. Most will be keen for him to leave the club, but the latest word from the player was that he wanted to stay. He can set about proving the doubters wrong by making a solid start in pre-season. It will be tough, but what he needs is game time, and he will hope to be given opportunities and go from there. He may even earn himself a move to a new club which he decides isn't so bad and elects to move on.

Damien Martinez

Argentine goalkeeper Damien Martinez will be hoping this season to establish himself as the Gunners number two behind Wojciech Szczesny. With Almunia gone only Lukas Fabianski stands in his way, but the Pole is keen to leave the club in search of regular football. Arsenal have been linked with French international Hugo Lloris this week, which would push him down the pecking order further. If Martinez can take advantage of game time in pre-season, he can show Arsenal do not need to sign any more goalkeepers.

Ignasi Miquel

Spanish defender Ignasi Miquel got close to the first team last season, making appearances at full-back. He will feel he didn't really do himself justice, and will want game time this pre-season, ideally in his preferred centre-back position. There are a number of players in his path to the first team at present, and his best option may be a loan move to another Premier League team. A good showing will make him more appealing to teams, and he will want to take advantage of any rare starts in an Arsenal shirt.

Marouane Chamakh

He's still here. Most thought he would be offloaded to Montpellier as part of the Giroud swoop, or offloaded elsewhere by now, but the Moroccan striker may not want to give up just yet - even though Fiorentina have today been linked with a bid. With Robin Van Persie announcing his intention to leave, Chamakh is reported to fancy his chances of making an impact in the first team. A good pre-season could do one of two things, propel him back into the reckoning and out of the doghouse, or help clinch a good move to a top European side. Both will give the striker plenty of motivation, and he will be ready to go.

Which of these five can make a big impact this season?

Dan Coombs

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Dan Coombs is a writer who is keen to embrace the internet revolution. He first started writing for us in June 2011 and commenced his new role as Sports Editor in February 2012.

As a trained journalist he has met famous faces from Mr T to Boris Johnson. He once featured in an England World Cup music video too, but it did not make the charts.

He grew up wanting to be a Formula 1 driver, but it looks like this dream has passed him by. Instead, he hopes you enjoy reading his writing on our site, as we seek to debate the day's sporting hot topics.