Arsenal will face fellow Premier League rivals Manchester United in a friendly as their pre-season tour of the USA continues. The Gunners battled Bournemouth yesterday to kick off their preparations, beating them on penalties in a thrilling encounter after the two sides played out a 1-1 draw.
Mikel Arteta’s men will face The Red Devils on July 28 at 1:00 am (British Summer Time) at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
Team News
Several of Arsenal’s senior players will miss the fixture due to their involvement in the recently concluded UEFA Euros and Copa America. Aaron Ramsdale, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, and David Raya will all miss the USA tour. Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Martinelli, and Kai Havertz, however, are expected to join the squad and may play a part against United. Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney remain in London as they recover from their respective injuries.
A number of youngsters have been included in the squad. Alexei Rojas, Josh Nichols, Ayden Heaven, Omar Rekik, Michal Rosiak, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri, Salah–Eddine Oulad M’Hand, Jimi Gower, and Charles Sagoe Jr. are all at the Gunners’ training camp in the USA. A few of them, including Heaven, Salah, and Lewis-Skelly, were given game time against Bournemouth. New signings Tommy Setford and Lucas Nygaard are also part of the squad.
Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe are expected to be absent from the game as they try and finalize their moves away from the Emirates Stadium.
Match Preview
Arsenal have enjoyed a historic rivalry with Manchester United and will be hoping to get the better of them even in friendlies. The Gunners have been dominant against United in recent years. In their last 20 competitive games against The Red Devils, Arsenal have won 9, drawn 5, and lost 6. The Gunners have lost just 2 of their last 11 games against United.
The FA Cup champions are likely to be a stronger side this season. Many of their key players have recovered from injuries, while new signings Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee will have added extra quality to an already talented squad.
Predicted Starting Line-Up
Having given a number of youngsters starts in the previous game, Arteta is expected to field a more senior team against United but could keep talented youngsters Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri in the starting 11. Gabriel, Havertz, and Martinelli are not expected to start but may come off the bench in the second half.
Predicted Lineup: Hein; White, Timber, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Partey, Nwaneri, Odegaard; Vieira, Jesus, Trossard
