Mikel Arteta has named his 30-man squad for Arsenal's upcoming pre-season tour. This weekend, the Gunners will board a plane to Asia as they step up preparations ahead of the new Premier League season.
Arsenal will face AC Milan and Newcastle United in Singapore before heading to Hong Kong to play Tottenham Hotspur. In an official statement from the north Londoners, Martin Odegaard has retained the captain's armband, and he'll welcome three new faces into the squad.
Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard will all be hoping to impress Arteta in the coming weeks as they look to cement a place in his starting lineup. Noni Madueke, who swapped Stamford Bridge for the Emirates Stadium on Friday, won't join his new teammates until Arsenal return to the United Kingdom due to his participation in the FIFA Club World Cup for Chelsea.
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The Gunners will land in Singapore on Sunday before taking on AC Milan and Newcastle in the National Stadium on Wednesday, July 23, and Sunday, July 27, respectively. Arsenal will then fly to Hong Kong to play the first-ever overseas north London derby.
Arteta will lock horns with Thomas Frank at the Kai Tak Sports Park on Thursday, July 31. An official statement on the Asia tour adds: "During the two-week visit, our players, coaches, and staff will be connecting with many of our fantastic supporters in Singapore and Hong Kong.
"In addition to the three matches, many activities are planned, including open training sessions, supporters’ clubs events, and exciting initiatives with our commercial partners in the region."
Viktor Gyokeres has also not been named in the Arsenal squad. football.london understands that the Gunners had hoped to have the Sporting striker on the flight to Asia, with Arteta keen to have his new player on the plane and integrated into the squad.
Talks with the Portuguese champions are at a very advanced stage; Gyokeres will be able to join the squad once a deal is completed. It's understood that Arsenal remain calm about the situation, and there's a hope that the 27-year-old will play some minutes in Asia before the north Londoners return for friendlies against Villarreal and Athletic Club at the Emirates Stadium.
Goalkeepers: David Raya, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Tommy Setford, Alexei Rojas-Fedorushchenko.
Defenders: William Saliba, Ben White, Gabriel Magalhaes, Jurrien Timber, Jakub Kiwior, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Riccardo Calafiori, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Josh Nichols, Marli Salmon.
Midfielders: Martin Odegaard, Christian Norgaard, Mikel Merino, Sambi Lokonga, Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, Louie Copley.
Forwards: Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, Ethan Nwaneri, Reiss Nelson, Kai Havertz, Ismeal Kabia, Max Dowman, Andre Harriman-Annous.
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