football.london takes a look at how the Gunners could line up for their mid-season friendly against Milan, with a few World Cup stars eyeing a return as Arsenal take on the Serie A side in Dubai...CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
Ben White & Thomas Partey Return As Arsenal Train In Dubai
When it comes to building up for the start of competitive football this season Mikel Arteta has already set something of a precedent. The Spaniard raised a few eyebrows in the summer by selecting the same starting XI for both of Arsenal’s final two preseason friendlies against Chelsea and Sevilla.
Both sides were about as strong as the Spaniard could possibly select for after the arrival of Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City had been confirmed. It stood the Gunners in good stead as they began the season like a house on fire, clearly benefitting from the chemistry they had built up in that short time.
Now Arteta faces something of a different task as he gears his side up for the return of Premier League football in just under two weeks. Having found the winning formula before, though, it’s hard to see the Spaniard changing much.
In goal, one difference is that Aaron Ramsdale is unavailable. The 24-year-old may not have played a minute during England’s World Cup campaign, but football.london understands he is still being given time off before joining up the group later this week. Matt Turner, meanwhile, came back from his own post-Qatar break on Sunday and should be in the starting line up straight away.
Ben White is also back from his time off after leaving the World Cup due to personal reasons. He’ll be keen to put a tough two weeks behind him and could be given the first half against AC Milan in place of Cedric. In the centre of defence, the already match fit Rob Holding and Gabriel should be selected to provide him with a bit of extra assistance, but on the left it’s a little more complicated.
Zinchenko is unlikely to be fit in time for Tuesday after missing training with the group in Dubai over the weekend. football.london understands that Arsenal are still confident he’ll be back by Boxing Day for West Ham, but while he’s absent Kieran Tierney is an able deputy who might see this as a chance to stake a claim for a place in the first team.
It’s perhaps harsh on Lino Sousa who looked so impressive after coming on against Lyon last week, but expect the England youngster to be given some minutes later on in the match.
In midfield Thomas Partey is also back in the group and given the policy with the other World Cup returnees, it’s safe to assume he’ll start this one. The Ghanaian is a player who is constantly demanding minutes to play his way into match fitness, and now he’s had some time off he’ll be keen to get sharp again.
The game might come too soon for Granit Xhaka, though, who has been on holiday in Dubai, but is still yet to train with the rest of the group. In his place, Albert Sambi Lokonga, who looked good against Lyon, should get another chance from the off.
Martin Odegaard is the standard-bearer for the intensity Arteta is trying ensure in the Dubai camp, and seems almost certain to start alongside the Belgian.
Despite exits from the World Cup for Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli since last week’s match with Lyon, it does seem as though this game will also be a touch soon for the pair. In their place Fabio Vieira will look to continue his impressive form from Thursday, while Reiss Nelson will be hoping to improve his.
Up top Eddie Nketiah will get another chance to show why he’s the man to step up in the absence of Gabriel Jesus, amid rumours that Arsenal are keen to strengthen the forward areas this January.
Beyond that, expect plenty more academy players to be involved in the game just as they were against Lyon. Arteta has been happy with a lot of what he’s seen from Mehmet Ali’s youngsters and will give them minutes as he looks to ease his first team back to fitness.
Arsenal predicted XI vs AC Milan – Turner; White, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney; Partey, Lokonga, Odegaard; Vieira, Nketiah, Nelson.
