Arsenal are set to take on Bayer Leverkusen in the first game of the 2024 Emirates Cup, which will serve as one of two final pre-season friendlies before the Premier League campaign begins.
After a pre-season tour in the USA ended with a win, a draw, and a defeat against Manchester United,
Bournemouth, and Liverpool, Arsenal will now return to their home for the first time since the final day of last season.
They will be joined by some new faces, as Jurrien Timber is back from his lengthy absence after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament on his Premier League debut,
whilst new signing Riccardo Calafiori is in contention to start after he was left out of the Liverpool friendly following his signing.
Arsenal will come up against former captain Granit Xhaka, who returns to the Emirates for the first time since his departure,
and he will line up as a Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal winner after a historic campaign under Xabi Alonso.
Mikel Arteta will hope for a strong performance as he aims to get his side up to speed, and he will be blessed with a nearly full squad.
Arsenal team and injury news ahead of Bayer Leverkusen clash
Five players missed the USA tour as they reached the latter stages of Euro 2024,
but all of David Raya, Aaron Ramsdale, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, and William Saliba are now available.
Saliba and Raya may be the only ones to start, with Rice and Saka potentially eased in after starting in England’s defeat to Spain in Berlin.
Calafiori will also hope to appear for the first time, but Arteta may take this opportunity to use
Timber at left-back, with the Dutchman appearing in the center so far.
Jorginho will hope to start in midfield ahead of Thomas Partey, as will youngster Ethan Nwaneri,
but he will battle Fabio Vieira and Martin Odegaard for a midfield spot.
Takehiro Tomiyasu is expected to be missing as he continues to battle an injury he picked up before the USA tour, and he is the only injury absentee,
as Partey and Gabriel Jesus, both aim to build up a run of fitness.
Reiss Nelson, Jakub Kiwior, and Eddie Nketiah have been linked with exits,
but with a move not yet materializing for any of them, they will be in contention for the match.
Several Hale End youngsters featured on the USA tour,
but only Ayden Heaven, Nwaneri, and Myles Lewis-Skelly have remained in first-team training since.
Arsenal predicted XI for Bayer Leverkusen Emirates Cup clash
Those who do not start the game are likely to come on in a flurry of substitutions,
and some will be aiming to start the final friendly against Lyon if they do not against Leverkusen.
Predicted Arsenal lineup: David Raya; Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Jurrien Timber; Jorginho, Martin Odegaard, Ethan Nwaneri; Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli.
Predicted Arsenal bench: Aaron Ramsdale, Tommy Setford; Riccardo Calafiori, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jakub Kiwior, Ayden Heaven; Thomas Partey, Declan Rice, Fabio Vieira, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Leandro Trossard, Bukayo Saka, Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nketiah.