Arsenal have announced their preliminary squad for the upcoming games in the US next week. The Gunners take on an MLS All-Star squad on Thursday July 28th, before a game against Chivas de Guadalajara at the StubHub Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, July 31.
While injuries or other factors may affect the final travelling squad, the names on the list so far are:
Goalkeepers
Petr Cech, David Ospina, Emi Martinez
Defenders
Hector Bellerin, Calum Chambers, Mathieu Debuchy, Gabriel, Kieran Gibbs, Per Mertesacker, Nacho Monreal, Krystian Bielik, Rob Holding
Midfielders
Santi Cazorla, Francis Coquelin, Mohamed Elneny, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, The Jeff, Chris Willock, Jack Wilshere, Granit Xhaka, Gedion Zelalem
Forwards
Theo Walcott, Alex Iwobi, Chuba Akpom, Joel Campbell
—
It’ll mean a first glimpse of new signings Granit Xhaka and Rob Holding.
There’s no place in the squad for Wojciech Szczesny, suggesting another loan spell at Roma – long mooted to be a possibility – is very much on the cards. There’s also a doubt about Santi Cazorla who is struggling with an Achilles problem.
Olivier Giroud, Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil and Laurent Koscielny remain absent due to their participation in the European Championships. Similarly, Alexis Sanchez is on an extended break after his summer exertions but would not have made the trip anyway because of an ankle injury.
Theo striker? FFS
Can we please sell Walcott?
Walcott was corner duty last night in the game against Lens: he screwed every single one…I nearly stabbed myself in frustration…
Kind of requires someone to be on the other end of the transaction.
And therein lies the rub.
who’s going to pay him 140k a week
West Ham will
America.
FUCK YEAH!
Any clue on how bad Santi’s Achilles is? We can’t afford him missing the start, in view of so many other first team players missing it. He’d probably be our biggest and only creative threat.
Yes, it’s “this” bad. That’s your clue!!
I wonder if Walcott will get a start up front with Welbeck and Giroud missing, or Akpom will get another opportunity, hopefully Akpom!
Would much rather give Akpom or even Sanogo a go in the friendlies than Walcott. Best case scenario would be that Akpom gains confidence and can be an option in the beginning of the season. Though doubts remain about his attitude.. We have seen everything Walcott has to offer.
Playing Theo would give showcase him to potential buyers :O
Akpom scored 3 in 35 for Hull (that’s 2 more goals scored than tantrums thrown). His role next season should certainly be on loan again, rather than providing any sort of option for us, regardless of how his pre-season goes.
Of that list, I would say exactly 0 are an option for the center forward role at the start of next season.
Would love to see Campbell do well. Don’t know why Wenger is so hesitant to trust him as part of the starting eleven.
If we don’t beat America, Wenger out
THIS
IS
A
JOKE
Uhh, even though I’ve wanted Wenger to go for quite some time, I’m struggling to understand how a meaningless pre-season friendly on another continent could possibly be viewed by anyone as the ultimatum on regards to whether or not he’s past it.
Well that backfired.
If anything Clive I’d say he’s tried a little too hard there for me.
Our forward line up is both thin and weak sauce man. Interesting that Sanogo isn’t even in the picture. Really wish we had kept Afobe instead.
Probably reading too much into Campbell being listed as part of the forward. Still hoping to see him up too for a bit.
No serge Gnabry?
He’s going to the Olympics
Thank you. I guess he will fight with our only striking hope Takuma Asano ?
COYG!
Time for Wilshere to show his magic!! Also looking forward to see Santi on song and the charming man Xhaka!
Song? We sold Song, thank God.
Lol…what a miserly looking forward bunch. God we need a striker!
I hope Akpom, Campbell and heck even Iwobi plays CF ahead of Walcott.
I hate to see walcott’s name as our forward player
Yeah, should be listed under “Extra”
Excited to be going to the game in LA!
Traveling over 9 hours to watch a friendly with my 5 year old son…
Can’t wait!
Would love to meet Andrew and James as much as the players. When you live in US they are very much a part of your connection to the team.
Safe journey mate!
Flying in from Victoria for the game. Will be in the Kings Head Santa Monica Saturday.
Sanogo?
Where is Jenkinson?
injured
Injured for at least a few months.
Didnt he pick up some sort of year out type injury at west ham
Still recovering from his cruciate injury
Recovering from giving away a clumsy penalty
Four forwards have been named but only one of them is an out and out striker. It’s comes to something when Akpom is our only true striker whilst on tour.
Is Chesney not also injured?
He was at Euros but I believe he was recovered and could have played their last match if Fabianski hadn’t kept him out by being in good form. Unless he picked up another after?
No Sanogo!:0
Jesus we need a striker
He knows we do. I hope Wenger knows
Jesus is praying for Wenger to buy one
The Brazilian Jesus wouldn’t go a miss
Eurosport France say Mahrez is joining Arsenal after a meeting between Wenger and his agent in France yesterday!
How many poos?
Well, this seems to confirm that Sanogo has no future at the club.
Of the youth players I’m most excited to watch Willock. He’s always stood out when I’ve seen him at youth level for his range of talents. Zelalem and the Jeff are wonderful technically but Willock has the ability to make something out of nothing and cause serious problems for defenders one-on-one. Very interesting to see how he does against senior opposition.
I could have told you that the first time I saw him on the ball..
What has happened to Theo? Maybe a new environment maybe good for him.
He’s been sussed
I know it’s a a watered down, preseason marketing friendly that nobody really wants to play, but this will be my first time seeing Arsenal in person and I’m so excited I’ve forgotten proper grammar and punctuation rules.!
Zelalem should be given a go, especially considering he’s the only player in our squad who has ever lived/played in America. Not saying he should start, but definitely needs to come off the bench and be given at least a little time to show what he can do. As an American gooner, this would make me smile, as he’s living the dream (whether he ever cracks the first team or not), in my opinion.
I’m excited to see Arsenal in person for the first time, down to LA with my family. Even though it’s preseason my son can’t wait to see them!
First impressions from the Lens game : Calum is better at Rback. Not to say his clearance (headed) were any better but there is less damage likely from a mistake committed out wide. Going forward, he carries some threat despite a ‘lack of pace’. Campbell needs to learn to shoot better. Again protects the ball well, moves it around creatively but the shooting needs practise. Walcott for what we pay for him largely dissapointing and ineffective. The Jeff still needs to go on a good learn to receive some schooling. Gnabry had some loose touches but a very effective use… Read more »
Interesting no Sanogo and Jenkinson. No Japanese player either the Asano fellow.
He’s at the Olympics
The idea might be to leave theo back in America and return…. Maybe just put him on the sidewalk with a board saying for sale
This isn’t squad related but as The Arsenal will be on tour stateside, will Silent Stan make an appearance? Or will he be conspicuously absent?