Mikel Arteta has confirmed his squad for Arsenal’s pre-season tour of the United States.
The Gunners travel out to Los Angeles to play Bournemouth and Manchester United before rounding off their tour in Philadelphia against Liverpool. As well as overseeing those warm-up matches, Arteta will be putting his side through their paces as they seek to knock Manchester City off their perch at the top of the Premier League this season.
This is the third summer in a row that Arsenal will be heading out to the States. Arteta has viewed these tours as crucial to build a sense of team spirit and momentum going into the season.
This time around though, things will not be so simple. With the Euros and Copa America taking place this summer, a host of Arsenal first-team stars have been returning from their summer holidays at different times. This means that Aaron Ramsdale, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and David Raya – who all reached the final of the European Championships with England and Spain respectively will not be part of the travelling party. The four players will link up with their teammates when the squad returns to the UK.
Due to their progression in Copa America and the Euros, Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz will join the squad from July 25.
Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jorginho, Jakub Kiwior, and Leandro Trossard have made their return from their summer holidays to travel more or less straight on the tour.
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Emile Smith Rowe, Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah are all part of the initial travelling party. The trio have been subject to speculation over their future but will be on the plane that arrives in Los Angeles on Sunday evening.
With several players away a host of youngsters have been called up to the squad. In years gone by Arteta has been reluctant to take youth players with only Amario Cozier-Duberry travelling last year, and only Reuell Walters being involved the year before.
This time though Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ayden Heaven have all been called up to the senior group. New goalkeeping signing Tommy Setford will also travel on tour just days after his arrival from Ajax. The England youth international could even be in line for some playing time with neither Ramsdale nor Raya present in the States.
However there is no room for Charlie Patino. The player spent last season on loan but is expected to leave while Takehiro Tomiyasu is also missing from the squad due to a knee injury. Kieran Tierney also misses out due to a hamstring injury.
Arsenal’s US tour squad
Goalkeepers: Karl Hein, Tommy Setford, Lucas Nygaard, Alexei Rojas
Defenders: Ben White, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jurrien Timber, Josh Nichols, Jakub Kiwior, Ayden Heaven, Omar Rekik
Midfielders: Thomas Partey, Jorginho, Michal Rosiak, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Martin Odegaard, Emile Smith Rowe, Fabio Vieira, Ethan Nwaneri, Salah–Eddine Oulad M’Hand, Jimi Gower
Forwards: Leandro Trossard, Reiss Nelson, Charles Sagoe Jr, Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah
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