(via Arsenal.com)
Arsenal is set to commence preseason duties with 26 players published on the official website that have arrived in the United States for the tour. Unlike last season that had only one youngster, Amario Cozier-Duberry as part of the squad, this season’s US tour squad has as much as 13 youngsters, and that can be attributed to the fact that Arsenal had some contingent in the European Championships and Copa America.
Arsenal starts the preseason tour with a clash against Bournemouth on Thursday, before renewing their rivalry with Manchester United on Sunday. The US tour ends with a clash against Liverpool next week Thursday, before the team travels back to London for the Emirates Cup.
Karl Hein, fresh off a new contract extension, is the most senior goal keeper in the squad, with David Raya and Aaron Ramsdale recuperating from their exertions, while new academy signing, Tommy Setford, Lucas Nygaard and Alexei Rojas completing the goalkeeping department. There are four senior defenders in the squad, Ben White, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jakub Kiwior and Jurrien Timber, which are complemented by youngsters, Omar Rekik, Ayden Heaven and Josh Nichols.
In midfield, Martin Odegaard leads the charge alongside the experienced heads Thomas Partey and Jorginho. Wantaway midfielder, Emile Smith Rowe, and Fabio Vieira complete the first team cast in midfield, while youngsters like Michal Rosiak, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri, Salah–Eddine Oulad M’Hand and Jimi Gower. The forward line has a more familiar look with Leandro Trossard, Reiss Nelson, Charles Sagoe Jr, Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah available at Mikel Arteta’s disposal.
Speaking of Nketiah, it has been reported that Olympique Marseille is interested in signing him on a permanent basis. It is also believed that Nketiah is open to leaving Arsenal after so many years of perpetually rotting on the bench as a second fiddle striker season in, season out. Nketiah would have thought that the starting berth was his following the departure of Alex Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but Arsenal acquired the services of Gabriel Jesus and most recently Kai Havertz, that have been favored ahead of Nketiah.
With Aubameyang leaving Marseille for Saudi Arabia this summer, Roberto de Zerbi has earmarked Nketiah as a potential replacement and I hope both teams can reach an agreement for a good transfer fee. Nketiah is never going to be a first team player and will always play a bit-part role, so a move to Ligue 1, like Flo Balogun should favor him.
Let’s see how that pans out.
Sayonara.
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