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GUNNER BE ABSENT… Arsenal’s World Cup winners Mertesacker, Podolski and Ozil are unlikely to face Crystal Palace on the opening day of the English Premiership season on August 16.

NEW YORK. — Arsenal’s World Cup-winning heroes will ALL miss the start of the English Premier League soccer season. Manager Arsene Wenger has targeted the domestic title to build on last season’s FA Cup success, which ended a nine-year trophy drought for the Gunners. But Germany trio Mesut Ozil, Per Mertesacker and Lukas Podolski have been handed an extended break after going all the way to glory in Brazil earlier this month.

As a result, none of them will even resume training until four days before the season starts against Crystal Palace on August 16.
Wenger said: “I have given them a good break because I have experience of players who have been in the World Cup final. You need a rest.

“Will they be ready? Mertesacker prepares well — but for the first game . . . I don’t think they will be ready for August 16.”
Wenger would like to get his Germans playing earlier, but explained his hands are tied by Fifa rules.

He added: “A post-World Cup year is always very difficult and short, the World Cup final was July 13 and the start of the Premier League is August 16. From Fifa we are obliged to give four weeks’ holiday to the players, so I don’t know how all that works together. It looks impossible to me. A post-World Cup year is always very difficult for every big club because the players have been away.” Aaron Ramsey watched his teammates’ heroics in Brazil and believes they will return to the Emirates on a high. Injuries disrupted the Welshman’s fine form for Arsenal, but the fit-again midfielder is relishing the start of another season.

Ramsey said: “Obviously I didn’t play in the World Cup so I’ve been itching to get back and now we’re back involved again, getting ourselves ready for the season. I cannot wait for that moment to come along again.

“It’s a fantastic achievement. Germany have always been very strong in the World Cup and the Euros.
“They’ve had a great team spirit and that showed in the World Cup and it’s fantastic for them and for the club.” Ramsey is looking forward to linking up with exciting new recruit Alexis Sanchez, who joined Arsenal in a big-money move from Barcelona.

“Fantastic signing. He had a great World Cup with Chile as well, so we’re all looking forward to that. I’m sure he’ll settle in just fine.”
Wenger, speaking in New York ahead of Arsenal’s friendly against Thierry Henry’s Red Bulls today, also joined Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal in revealing his dislike of such long-distance pre-season trips.

“Sometimes our training camps are decided for commercial reasons to extend the popularity of the club,” said the Frenchman.
“We have been to Asia, of course, and we have many fans there. This is the first time for us to come to the States and I’m very happy we can come to New York because it’s a city I love.” — The Mirror.