Arsenal Set for Pre-Season Showdown with Milan as Transfer Activity Heats Up
Arsenal will kick off their pre-season with a friendly against AC Milan on July 23, marking the start of a three-match tour across Asia. The Gunners will also face Newcastle United in Singapore and Tottenham Hotspur in Hong Kong later this month.
Players report back to London on Monday, ahead of a short training camp in La Manga, Spain, before flying out to Asia.
By the time Arsenal take on Milan, several new faces could be in the squad. Kepa Arrizabalaga, signed to reinforce the goalkeeper ranks, may feature in that game, while Martin Zubimendi is also expected to be unveiled soon.
There’s hope that Viktor Gyokeres, linked strongly with the club, could be a Gunners player by then. If deals move quickly, Cristhian Mosquera, Christian Norgaard, and even Eberechi Eze could join the travelling party, with manager Mikel Arteta keen to integrate new signings early.
Former Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa will join David Raya, who remains the club’s No. 1, and returning loanee Karl Hein in the goalkeeping department.
At the back, Mosquera could serve as a stand-in for Gabriel Magalhaes during the warm-up games, while Zubimendi and Norgaard would slot into a refreshed midfield alongside Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard.
The forward line may see the biggest shake-up. While Rodrygo‘s involvement depends on his post-Club World Cup recovery, Gyokeres could feature if his move is finalized quickly. Arteta also wants Eze in place for the early fixtures, reinforcing the team’s creative firepower.
To accommodate the influx of talent, several players may depart this summer, including Albert Sambi Lokonga, Fabio Vieira, Reiss Nelson, Jakub Kiwior, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli, and Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Projected Arsenal Dream Squad for Milan Friendly:
- Goalkeepers: David Raya, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Karl Hein
- Defenders: Ben White, Cristhian Mosquera, Jurrien Timber, Riccardo Calafiori, William Saliba
- Midfielders: Christian Norgaard, Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard, Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino, Max Dowman, Myles Lewis-Skelly
- Attackers: Bukayo Saka, Ethan Nwaneri, Kai Havertz, Rodrygo, Viktor Gyokeres
