admin Arsenal new boy Riccardo Calafiori might be in line for his unofficial Gunners debut when the North London giants host Bayer Leverkusen in Wednesday’s pre-season friendly at the Emirates.
The Italian defender completed his £42m move to Mikel Arteta’s side during their pre-season tour of the USA, but he was not involved in their final match Stateside, a 2-1 loss to Liverpool.
There is every chance that Calafiori will make the squad on Wednesday, although Arteta has suggested that he will be building up his fitness slowly after Euro 2024, so a start is unlikely.
Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, Declan Rice, Aaron Ramsdale and David Raya may also be kept in reserve, having only just returned to training, while Kieran Tierney (hamstring) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) are both out.
However, Jurrien Timber is likely to be back after being rested for the Liverpool encounter, and he could line up alongside Gabriel Magalhaes as the central pairing in front of goalkeeper Karl Hein.
Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko should reprise their roles out wide, and the same can be said for Thomas Partey, Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz – scorer of Arsenal’s consolation against Liverpool – in midfield.
Despite persistent links with a move away, Reiss Nelson started the clash with the Reds on the right and is the most natural fit in that position if Saka is not risked, so the Englishman may join Brazilian duo Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus up top again.
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Hein; White, Timber, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Partey, Havertz; Nelson, Jesus, Martinelli
