Arsenal have two more pre-season games as they prepare for the 2024/25 Premier League season.
Mikel Arteta’s Gunners face Bayer Leverkusen in their final check when Granit Xhaka returns to the Emirates on Wednesday night.
Xabi Alonso will also return to England after his legendary stint as Liverpool midfielder. Leverkusen want to protect their name in the Bundesliga after their magnificent triumph last season.
The Sporting News takes a look at how the two groups could line up for this matchup.
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Arteta will have to decide whether to give Riccardo Calafiori his Arsenal debut against Leverkusen, following his recent educational sessions with the team in the United States.
Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, William Saliba, Aaron Ramsdale and David Raya, who all received pre-season education last weekend, may also appear for the first time since returning from their post-Euro 2024 summer break.
Arsenal awaits (4-3-3, from right to left): Raya (Goalkeeper) – White, Calafiori, Gabriel, Kiwior – Partey, Odegaard, Nwaneri – Vieira, Havertz, Martinelli.
Injured: Kieran Tierney, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Jurrien TimberSuspended: N/A
Leverkusen’s Exequiel Palacios will be out for four weeks following knee surgery earlier in the week.
Xabi Alonso’s squad includes new £17million signing Martin Terrier from Rennes, who scored in the draw against Lens, as well as new arrivals Aleix García and Jeanuel Belocian.
Bayer Leverkusen predicted (3-4-2-1, left): Hradecky (GK) – Kossounou, Tah, Hincapie – Tella, Garcia, Xhaka, Belocian – Wirtz, Terrier – Boniface.
Injured: Exequiel PalaciosSuspended: Matija Marsenic