Rangers have re-signed rookie defender Kyle Bartley from Arsenal on a season-long loan.

The 20-year-old joined the Scottish giants in January in a similar deal and he will arrive at Murray Park on Friday.

Bartley's stay north of the border was cut short after he sustained a knee injury in the Europa League in March.

He has now recovered from the injury and displayed his fitness during pre-season with the Gunners.

Rangers manager Ally McCoist has moved quickly to strengthen his team after they were dumped out of the Champions League qualifying stages by Malmo.

Club owner Craig Whyte has stated there will be more signings to bolster the squad before the end of the transfer window and Bartley would appear to be the first of a clutch of new arrivals.

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere admits that he is still trying to prove himself despite being a first team regular for both club and country last season.

At this point of time last year, Jack Wilshere was still waiting to break into the Arsenal team after coming back from a Bolton loan spell. Fast forward 12  months, the combative midfielder is a mainstay of the North London club and a starting midfielder in the England squad.

Wilshere looked back and reflected on how he far he has developed with a full season of football under his belt.

Speaking at a club event, he told Arsenal's official website: "I don't really feel any more pressure now, I play in a good team so the players around me make it easier. There is a bit more responsibility though."

Although he has been touted to be the future of the Enland team, Wilshere still has his foot firmly on the ground, insisting that he is yet the finished article.

"At this stage last year I had not played a game for Arsenal. I was just trying to prove myself. I am still trying to prove myself now really. I am just trying to keep my place in the team.

"I am still young and I know I have a lot to learn but there is a bit more responsibility on me now."

Cesc Fabregas faced Arsenal fans for the first time in more than three months at the club's Members' Day.

Fabregas could have expected a frosty reception as he took to the pitch with the rest of his Gunners team-mates for an open training session at the Emirates Stadium.

But there were no jeers for the 24-year-old, despite rumours he wants to quit the club for Barcelona.

Heavy rain also forced the club to postpone their official team photo, which may ultimately spare them being left with one that includes Fabregas were he to leave.

However, both Fabregas and contract rebel Samir Nasri are understood to have posed for annual in-house photos and videos on Thursday as well as completing the usual pre-season pictures for other media outlets.

The postponed team photo, meanwhile, is expected to be taken at Arsenal's London Colney training ground before the end of the month.

The Spaniard has yet to feature in pre-season although he could take part in Saturday's final friendly at Benfica.

Barca continued to woo Fabregas on Thursday, with the midfielder's Spain team-mate Andres Iniesta, telling Sport: "We have said it many times before. We would be thrilled with his arrival.

"We are speaking about one of the best, but it all depends on the two clubs as well as the player's wishes."

The bad weather was also one factor behind what was a low turnout of around 3,000 at the Emirates, when a crowd of 10,000 had been expected.

Those who stayed until the end of the session were rewarded with an address from manager Arsene Wenger, who revealed he was "more determined" than ever to end the club's silverware drought.

Arsenal face a tough start to the Barclays Premier League season, with a trip to Newcastle followed by games against Liverpool and Manchester United.

Wenger said: "We know that but we are ready, well-prepared and determined to have a strong start.

"We'll give absolutely everything to do it. Let's focus and believe that we can do it."

He added: "We had a good preparation and, I think, good team bonding.

"Overall, we are very happy and confident.

"We feel we were very, very close last year and we want to do it this year."

Former Arsenal defender Nigel Winterburn believes the Gunners need to add big and powerful players this summer if they are to be successful next season.

Speaking to talkSport’s Hawksbee and Jacobs on Wednesday, the Englishman started by admitting that he’s trying to keep away from the training ground as the Gunners are going through a difficult period and it would be better to let those responsible to handle the situation work without any additional pressure.

On what is missing in the squad, the 47-year old added that Arsene Wenger is doing an exceptional job in charge but the Gunners need more power in certain areas of the pitch.

According to the former left-back, Arsenal are second to none in respect to the beautiful passing game and the pace with which they move the ball but when things are not going according to plan then it is important to have big and powerful players in order to “scrap it out”.

On Wednesday, Winterburn said:

Quote:

I go down [to the training ground] occasionally but to be quite honest, I try to keep away. I do a lot of commentating on their games, I’m proud that I was part of that team but at the moment they are in a difficult period over the last six years. You go back, you still speak to some people who say, ‘I wish you were still here’, the sort of good old days [but] to me that’s not right, you’ve got to move forward. I fully appreciate what Arsene Wenger is trying to do but I do admit that, yes, they need more power in their team. When they’re playing really well, their quick passing movement will kill any team but how many times does that happen throughout a season? How many times is it when things are not going quite right and you’ve got to try and do something and that’s when your big players, your powerful players drive you forward and you scrap it out and I just don’t think Arsenal have that type of player at the moment.