Morning all.

Arsenal are soon to jet off to the USA for pre season training along with a number of friendly matches. I say friendly but considering Liverpool, Man Utd and Bournemouth are the opposition, no doubt there will be a few tasty tackles going on.

As it stands, Arsenal will be without a first or second choice goalkeeper for the trip as David Raya and Aaron Ramsdale are enjoying some down time after the Euros. Ramsdale was at Trent Bridge yesterday to watch England play against West Indies.

Karl Hein will no doubt travel with the squad, eager I’m sure to show Mikel Arteta why he doesn’t need to sign a goalkeeper if Ramsdale leaves. Thomas Partey and Gabriel Jesus have already been training which is great for them and the club but whether our midfielder will be at the club when the transfer window closes remains to be seen.

With a number of senior players still on their holidays, it’s an opportunity for some of the younger players to make the trip to America and be a part of the squad. Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly are likely to join the squad and perhaps Ayden Heaven too. All three are 17 years old and have already been involved in first team training this summer, as have Charles Sagoe Junior, 19,  20-year-old Salah-Eddine Oulad M’Hand and Zane Monlouis.

This is our our schedule in America looks:

  • Arsenal v Bournemouth: July 25 – 3:30am BST,
  • Arsenal v Manchester United: July 28 – 1am BST
  • Arsenal v Liverpool: August 1 – 12:30am BST

Then it’s back to the UK for two more fixtures:

  • Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen: August 7 – 6pm BST
  • Arsenal v Lyon: August 11 – 2pm BST

That’s a lot of games in a short space of time but it’s what the players need to return to full fitness. In any case, I very much doubt any player will play 90 mins of a game. It’s typical in pre-season for a manager to have unlimited substitutions so everyone should get minutes.

From Arsenal.com – Individual match passes will be available as we approach the fixture dates. This includes our first pre-season game against Bournemouth on July 25 at 3:30am BST, which is not covered by our pre-season pass. The early bird offer runs until the morning of July 27, after which the pre-season pass will be available to purchase for £14.99.

Think I’ll skip the USA games live unless I suffer a bout of insomnia, but catching up the following day is at least an option. We often talk about the younger players so it’ll be good to actually see them in action against a PL side.

Not only will it be interesting to see which players travel to the USA but those who don’t too because if any first team squad players are left behind, it’s a good indication that their days at the club are numbered. Although I’m sure ‘injury’ will be the reason they don’t travel. Eddie Nketiah, Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe are rumoured to be attracting interest from Marseille, West Ham and Fulham respectively with offers for Smith Rowe having already been rejected according to reports. So I guess it’s watch this space when the squad is announced.

Lastly, according to The Athletic, Theo Walcott and Gilberto Silva will be travelling to the USA in ambassadorial roles. Anything for a freebie eh….

Catch up in the comments.

 

 

 

 

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