Pre-Season 2025/2026 thread

[HCZ_Reborn]

Our first pre season friendly against AC Milan kicks off in just over half an hour

Team is mainly first team players with Zinchenko (going to be hard to shift on his wages) also starting


Norgaard starts as does Nwaneri in the no10 role (a role I think he’s better suited to than on the wing, not that he’s not good on the wing but he likes to cut inside a lot)


Zubimendi on the bench

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From Sky:

Arsenal team news
Team to play AC Milan: Raya, White, Saliba, Calafiori, Zinchenko, Norgaard, Rice, Nwaneri, Saka, Martinelli, Havertz.

Subs: Kepa, Setford, Rojas-Fedoruschenko, Nichols, Kiwior, Salmon, Lewis-Skelly, Zubimendi, Lokonga, Copley, Merino, Dowman, Odegaard, Kabia, Nelson, Trossard, Harriman-Annous.

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From Sky:

AC Milan team news
AC Milan: P Terracciano, Tomori, Thiaw, Pavlovic, Bartesaghi, Ricci, Loftus-Cheek, Musah, Saelemaekers, Leao, Pulisic.

Subs: Pittarella, Torriani, F Terracciano, Okafor, Chukwueze, Colombo, Comotto, Dutu, Bondo, Gabbia, Magni, Liberali.

[HCZ_Reborn]

From Sky:

Arsenal team news
Team to play AC Milan: Raya, White, Saliba, Calafiori, Zinchenko, Norgaard, Rice, Nwaneri, Saka, Martinelli, Havertz.

Subs: Kepa, Setford, Rojas-Fedoruschenko, Nichols, Kiwior, Salmon, Lewis-Skelly, Zubimendi, Lokonga, Copley, Merino, Dowman, Odegaard, Kabia, Nelson, Trossard, Harriman-Annous.

Dowman coming off the bench should be interesting

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Hope Dowman comes on for a bit, though Nwaneri won't be too pleased if he needs to give way for a 15yr old

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Looking at our lineup I suspect Arteta might be doing his 3 at the back thing again, with Zinchenko playing in the middle and likely going to suffocate Nwaneri.

Well can't complain, pre-season is for experimenting.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Looking at our lineup I suspect Arteta might be doing his 3 at the back thing again, with Zinchenko playing in the middle and likely going to suffocate Nwaneri.

Well can't complain, pre-season is for experimenting.

That or he’s trying to interest people in signing Zinchenko, not entirely convinced watching him play will be the best way to achieve that

I think more than likely he will go out on loan (as possibly Jesus will do when he comes back to full fitness - if he comes back to full fitness)

[HCZ_Reborn]

Seems very similar pattern to last season, lots of possession in their territory but they are able to get back and snuff out danger. And Norgaard looking like he could expose for pace a lot

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I agree not much has changed.

Everything good we are trying to do is coming from the right and with Havertz leading the line there is obviously little being made from half chances.

Caliafiori looks a natural covering for Gabriel so far.

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Great piece of skill from Nwaneri.....we really need to get this boy to sign ASAP.