After four warm-up matches, Arsenal still had not fully settled into a rhythm.
The effects of injuries and squad changes were still present in training and in match tempo. Whatever the causes, the season was approaching quickly, and there was no time left to wait for things to naturally fall into place.
Pat Rice made the first major decision after taking charge. Every player would now undergo daily health checks, without exception.
Last season had gone relatively smoothly in terms of injuries, but Arsenal's history with physical setbacks had always been a concern. Pat did not want to rely on luck or probability, especially with a long season ahead.
He instructed Tony Colbert to set up detailed medical records for every player. Even the smallest discomfort would be logged and checked immediately.
Kai was also sent for a full examination at the hospital. His ankle, which had been injured before, had shown no recurrence for a long time. The scans confirmed full recovery, but the medical staff still advised continued monitoring.
Injuries were never predictable. The priority was keeping him stable across the season.
A week before the new campaign, the entire squad reported to London University Hospital for a full physical assessment. It took most of the afternoon to complete.
The results were not entirely clean.
Suarez, Sanchez, Mustafi, Chambers, and Čech were all flagged with varying levels of injury risk.
Pat Rice looked at the report and rubbed his forehead lightly.
"Not ideal," he said quietly. "These are not fringe players either."
Tony Colbert replied, "Nothing critical right now, but they need a controlled workload. If we push them, it could turn into something worse."
Pat nodded once. "Then we control it properly."
The only relief came when Kai's final results came back clean. His ankle had fully healed, with no sign of chronic damage or lingering weakness.
That outcome mattered more than it looked. For both player and club, it meant stability rather than long-term uncertainty.
After the medical assessments, Arsenal moved into a one-week pre-season preparation phase. Training intensity was reduced on purpose.
The players adjusted accordingly. Sessions became shorter, more focused, and less physically draining.
Across England, rival clubs were also finalising their preparations.
At Manchester United, José Mourinho had already begun reshaping parts of the squad. However, internal disagreement continued over the signing of Paul Pogba. Mourinho questioned whether the move was necessary, arguing the balance of the squad did not require such an addition.
The club leadership disagreed. They pushed for the transfer.
In the end, Mourinho had to accept the decision, even without full control over it. Pogba arrived at Old Trafford to significant attention and immediate pressure.
At Manchester City, investment was even more aggressive. The appointment of Pep Guardiola brought major expectations. His arrival alone shifted the mood around the club.
The squad was strengthened further with the additions of Sterling and De Bruyne, while Yaya Touré and David Silva returned from injury. The team suddenly had depth, balance, and technical control across midfield.
Many began to see City as a serious title contender.
At Liverpool, Jürgen Klopp's first request upon arrival was unexpected. He asked Steven Gerrard to delay retirement for one more season.
Gerrard agreed, even though he had already prepared himself mentally to step away.
Supporters reacted immediately. They were pleased to see him remain, even if they knew his role on the pitch would likely be limited.
Within the club, Klopp made it clear.
"He is not just here for minutes," he told the staff. "He helps shape the dressing room. That matters far, far more than appearances."
Liverpool also invested heavily in the transfer market. Mohamed Salah arrived with mixed expectations. His time at Chelsea had been inconsistent, and many questioned whether he could adapt to a higher role.
Another signing, Chen Man, drew even more debate. He was fast, direct, and very limited in versatility. Outside of pace, there was little consensus on his effectiveness.
Most media assessments were blunt. Speed alone was not considered enough at that level.
Klopp did not respond publicly. He focused on training and integration rather than commentary.
Chelsea, meanwhile, kept most of their title-winning squad intact. Antonio Conte made only minor adjustments, preferring stability over reconstruction.
In his first season interview, Conte spoke with confidence.
"This team already knows how to win. My job is to bring consistency and push us back to the top."
Club owner Roman Abramovich expressed full support for the new manager, trusting the direction being taken.
It was a familiar pattern for Chelsea. Strong backing, high expectations, and limited patience if results did not follow.
Tottenham also entered the new season with growing momentum under Mauricio Pochettino. The squad had begun to develop a clearer structure and identity, and performances from the previous season had raised expectations inside the club.
Following last season, Pochettino had already identified his structure at Tottenham.
Eriksson was settled as the central figure in midfield, while Harry Kane remained the main attacking reference point. The club also pushed through the signing of Son Heung-min from the Bundesliga, adding another sharp attacking option on the flank.
Together, they were expected to form the backbone of Tottenham's new phase.
Arsenal's approach this season looked very different.
The spending had been significant, but it did not carry the same sense of control or long-term planning as their rivals. It felt reactive rather than deliberate.
Player departures and the sudden decline in stability around the club had forced decisions that would not normally be made so quickly.
Wenger's illness had only deepened the uncertainty.
Pat Rice had stepped into responsibility without much room to adjust. The squad still had quality, with arrivals like Aubameyang and Čech, but their roles were not fully integrated into a clear system yet. Tactical balance remained an open question.
Reports in the media painted a picture of a club under strain.
Supporters in London dismissed much of it, pointing to their status as reigning Champions League champions. Still, the confidence felt mixed, not absolute.
. . .
Inpatient Ward, London University Hospital.
Inside a private room, Wenger lay back against clean white sheets. A book rested in his hand, half-finished. Light from the window filled the room, and the curtains shifted slightly with the breeze.
A knock came at the door.
"Come in," Wenger said calmly.
Pat Rice entered, closing the door behind him. He placed a small bag of fruit on the bedside table and took a moment to look at him properly.
"How are you holding up?" he asked.
Wenger adjusted his glasses slightly. "Better than before. Recovery is steady."
Pat Rice nodded once. "And returning to work"
A faint pause followed.
"Not yet," Wenger replied. "The doctors are clear. No high-pressure work for now. I need monitoring."
Pat Rice exhaled through his nose. "So I am really carrying this alone."
Wenger gave a small, tired smile. "That was always going to happen at some point."
Pat Rice pulled up a chair and sat down. "When you first woke up, things were far worse than people realised. You could not even recognise faces properly."
"I remember fragments," Wenger said quietly. "It is improving, but not complete."
Pat Rice folded his arms. "This is not simple. And I have heart issues of my own. I am not exactly the ideal person to be holding everything together."
Wenger looked at him, then let out a short laugh. "Neither of us planned it like this."
A silence settled for a moment.
Wenger spoke again, more carefully this time. "The medical advice is strict. Stress has to stay low. My wife is also insisting I follow everything properly."
Pat Rice leaned back slightly. "Then rest. I will manage for now."
He paused, then added in a lower tone, "Do not blame me if things go wrong and we get relegated."
Wenger raised his eyebrows. "Relegated?"
Pat Rice waved it off quickly. "Ignore that. Just talking."
Wenger gave a slow nod, then exhaled. "You scared me for a second."
The tone shifted back to football.
"But the situation is still not stable," Pat Rice said. "The attack is not functioning properly. We are creating chances, but nothing is connecting consistently."
Wenger listened carefully. "That problem was already forming when Cazorla got injured."
Pat Rice's expression sharpened. "So you saw it too."
"I saw it," Wenger replied. "But seeing it and fixing it are not the same thing. I did not have the time to solve it properly."
Pat Rice leaned forward slightly. "Then I need a direction. Otherwise, I am managing this blind."
Wenger gave a small, almost helpless shrug. "There is no finished answer yet."
Pat Rice frowned. "That is not what I wanted to hear."
Wenger let out a soft laugh. "It is the only honest answer I have."
Pat Rice rubbed his temple. "If this goes badly, people will say I dragged Arsenal down myself."
Wenger shook his head. "Do not go there. Arsenal is not in that position."
Pat Rice looked at him directly. "Then act like it. Because right now it feels like everything is hanging together by force."
Wenger closed the book on his lap.
"You are the head coach now," he said calmly. "That part is yours to carry."
He tapped his temple lightly. "I need to rest this properly."
Pat Rice stood up slowly, then picked up the fruit bag again, adjusting it on the table as if buying time.
"I will manage," he said.
Wenger smiled faintly. "I know you will."
Pat Rice hesitated at the door.
"If it goes wrong," he said, "I do not want you watching the collapse from here."
Wenger gave a small, steady nod. "Then do not let it collapse."
Pat Rice let out a quiet breath, then left the room.
Wenger remained still for a moment, eyes on the window, as the curtains moved gently in the light.
. . .
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