Arsenal will face fellow Premier League side Bournemouth in a friendly to kick off their pre-season preparations. The game will be played tomorrow at 3:30 am (British Summer Time) at the Dignity Health Sports Park in California.
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 will join Mikel Arteta’s squad on July 25th, missing this game but should be available for the remaining fixtures of the tour. Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney are 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 and will be hoping to get opportunities with several senior players missing. New signings Tommy Setford and Lucas Nygaard are also part of the squad.
Match Preview
Arsenal have been dominant against Bournemouth in their past meetings, winning 13 of the 16 games played against them. Bournemouth have a sole victory against Arsenal, recorded back in 2018.
Under Andoni Iraola, Bournemouth look to be a force to reckon with, so Mikel Arteta will consider this a perfect way to begin pre-season preparations. While not at full strength, Arsenal will be expecting to win this game.
Following the match against the Cherries, the Gunners will face more formidable opponents in Manchester United and Liverpool. They will be hoping to start their pre-season campaign with a victory to gain match sharpness and build confidence ahead of the upcoming season.
Predicted Starting Line-Up
Jurrien Timber will be looking to start his first game for Arsenal since the opening game of last season’s Premier League campaign. A mix of senior players like captain Martin Ødegaard and Ben White will be involved, with Arteta expected to give opportunities to highly regarded youngsters like Heaven and Lewis-Skelly.
Predicted Lineup
Hein; White, Heaven, Kiwior, Timber; Partey, Lewis-Skelly, Ødegaard; Nwaneri, Jesus, Vieira
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