4-2-3-1: Arsenal predicted XI vs Leverkusen, four changes in pre-season finale as new signings get their debut in a must win match
And just like that, the second leg of Arsenal’s pre-season is already over. Having spent two weeks preparing at the Sobha Realty training complex, it was a sharp three-match sprint in America for Mikel Arteta’s squad, and now back to London for the final stretch.
There are still two games to go before the Premier League gets back underway again, but those will both be held in more familiar surroundings at the Emirates Stadium. It is Bayer Leverkusen next up and a reunion with Granit Xhaka as the tough fixtures continue to come.
After already playing both Manchester United and Liverpool, there is little letup for Arteta and his side, who have already had to contend with planning around the Euros and Copa America this summer. Just over two weeks out from the return of competitive football, and some of the key men are yet to get back to it.
Bukayo Saka was in the USA but not with his teammates in training and didn’t feature against Liverpool on Wednesday morning. Aaron Ramsdale, having also been in Germany longer than most after England reached the Euro 2024 final, is also away for now.
Declan Rice has been seen training on his own holidays but is yet to rejoin the camp. David Raya and William Saliba are in the same boat despite the latter being knocked out a round earlier in the semi-finals with France.
Other than Ramsdale, this is a core of four starting players who will need to find their mojo quickly in order to slot into the fold in time to get minutes against Leverkusen on Wednesday. Arteta is hopeful that they will be back in training soon enough, though.
“End of this week,” he said when asked about their returns. “I’m very confident because when I spoke to them, they really wanted to be part of it as quick as possible. They’re ready to go, not to prepare, but to go straight away when they join. That’s different.”
When Raya, Ramsdale, Rice, Saka, and Saliba do dip into pre-season at Arsenal, they will have a new teammate. Riccardo Calafiori is the only senior new addition to the squad so far this window but is awaiting a debut having not been passed as ready to face Liverpool.
Arteta played it coy before the game but will now have extra time to get the Italian up to speed before taking on Xabi Alonso’s Bundesliga conquerors. “I don’t know,” the coach said on Monday. “He had a long flight yesterday and the medical. The last 48 hours have been busy for him.
“He hasn’t really done anything with the team. Let’s see how he is. If he’s available great, he might play a few minutes [against Liverpool] But if he’s not ready, we’re not going to push him.”
Arteta chose against giving him an early run out in the States but may well offer an uncompetitive debut in north London on August 7. Jurrien Timber could also be selected again against Leverkusen after being rested in the defeat to Liverpool. Coming back from a long-term injury that marred his first season at Arsenal, the club opted to give him time off after playing against both Bournemouth and Manchester United.
It is not thought to be a setback for the Dutchman, who was in attendance with Calafiori at Lincon Financial Field. The same cannot be said for Takehiro Tomiyasu.
