Extra time off for Arsenal's Euro 2016 stars - Wenger

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will give a number of his key players time off to "regenerate" before the new season - even if it limits his options for the opening Premier League game against Liverpool.

While the likes of Theo Walcott, Per Mertesacker, Gabriel, Francis Coquelin and even Jack Wilshere - just a couple of weeks after England's exit from Euro 2016 - have reported back to London Colney, Wenger is determined to afford extra holiday to those who have endured a busy summer schedule.

Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey, German playmaker Mesut Ozil and French duo Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny have all been granted an additional break following a draining European Championship campaign.

It remains to be seen how long it will take Alexis Sanchez to recover from the ankle injury he sustained in helping Chile win the Copa America in the United States.

Wenger, though, insists he will not risk the long-term impact of those returning internationals over the course of the 2016/2017 campaign, the start of which is now only a matter of weeks away. The Gunners have five planned friendly fixtures before their competitive opener on August 14, at home against Liverpool, but the manager insisted a longer-term view is more important.