This time next week, Arsenal will be preparing to face AC Milan in their first pre-season friendly.
The Gunners are currently in La Manga, Spain for a warm weather training camp and are set to return to London in the coming days before then jetting off once more. The squad will fly to Singapore on Saturday and while there will face AC Milan on Wednesday, July 23 and Newcastle on Sunday, July 27. After those two friendlies, the north Londoners will make the journey to Hong Kong where they will face arch rivals Tottenham on July 31.
New signing Kepa Arrizabalaga, who joined from Chelsea in a £5million deal earlier this month, could be handed his first minutes in an Arsenal shirt against AC Milan next Wednesday. The Spaniard will likely share minutes with David Raya over the coming weeks with football.london told that Kepa does not intend to just accept being a No.2.
William Saliba and Gabriel will likely start at centre-back against the Italian side, although it will be interesting to see the role Cristhian Mosquera is given this season. According to the Telegraph, the Gunners are expected to unveil the Spanish youth international later this week having reached an agreement with the La Liga side. The 21-year-old will arrive in a deal worth around £15million and is expected to sign a long-term deal in north London.
Jurrien Timber and Ben White will be the right-back options, while Myles Lewis-Skelly and Riccardo Calafiori look set to battle it out for the left-back spot. In front of the defence we could see a midfield trio of Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard for the first time. Christian Norgaard will likely get some minutes, too, but it’s the forward line which is likely to intrigue fans most.
Arsenal have reached an agreement in principle with Sporting CP to sign Viktor Gyokeres, football.london understands, with the Gunners agreeing to pay £54.8million (€63.5million) guaranteed plus £8.6million (€10million) in add-ons. The prolific striker is set to have a medical in the coming days and should be an Arsenal player by the time the squad jet off to Asia, meaning we could see the Swedish international against AC Milan.
Another player who could make his Arsenal bow against Milan is Noni Madueke. The tricky winger will complete a £52million move from Chelsea this week and will act as cover for Bukayo Saka in the weeks, months and years ahead. It’s possible the Englishman is also deployed on the left-hand side, although he will have to fight Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard for that role. Of course, there is also Kai Havertz who Arteta is a huge fan of, while Ethan Nwaneri is still on his holidays after the Hale Ender helped England U21s win the European Under-21 Championship.
Dream Arsenal XI vs AC Milan: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli.
