Arsenal football club will be taking part in the International Champions Cup preseason tournament for the second successive season. Arsenal are visiting Singapore and kick-off the preseason against Spanish giants, Atletico Madrid on Thursday, 26th July.
Preseason has always been a good way for teams to prepare for the new campaign. Not only do key players get back into shape after their vacations, youngsters are also given the chance to impress and push for more first team chances. A new signings also get the chance to start integrating with their new teammates.
The squad for Arsenal's tour was released yesterday and consisted of both experienced stalwarts and budding youngsters.
The 25 man squad includes:
Goalkeepers: Cech, Leno and Martinez
Defenders: Bellerin, Chambers, Holding, Mustafi, Sokratis, Mavropanos, Kolasinac and Osei-Tutu
Midfield: Elneny, Maitland-Niles, Guendouzi, Ramsey, Willock, Nelson, Smith-Rowe, Mhkitaryan, Ozil and Iwobi
Strikers: Aubameyang, Lacazette, Nketiah and Perez
New goalkeeper signing Leno would look to impress when he makes his outdoor debut for Arsenal. The 26 year old joined Arsenal with an already huge reputation after starring in the bundesliga for some years now.
In defense, most eyes would be cast on another new signing - Sokratis. Arsenal have long had defensive issues and fans were undeniable excited when an experienced head like Sokratis joined some weeks back. Younger defenders like Holding, Chambers and Mavropanos will also be of interest as they continue their growth and push for more first team opportunities at Arsenal.
In the middle, youngsters like Maitland-Niles, Willock, new signing Guendouzi and Smith Rowe would want to impress new manager Emery for more opportunities as well. Maitland-Niles already broke into the first team last season under Arsene Wenger although it wasn't at his favored midfield role and would look to convince Unai Emery to hand him more time in the middle.
There is a notable buzz about Smith Rowe at Arsenal. The young lad is considered to be the next big thing to come out of Arsenal's youth production line and this tour would be a great avenue to show everyone just what he is made of. Willock and Nelson already had a fine preseason last year and will want to continue the brilliant groundwork they already laid.
Fans were excited when news broke of Mesut Ozil cutting his vacation short to link up with his teammates and new manager and rightly so. Ozil is one of the key men at Arsenal and it would be great to have him for a full preseason.
Mhkitaryan and Aubameyang are two exciting players who joined the club in January and are set to have their first complete preseason preparation with the club. Fans can't wait for the Aubameyang - Lacazette chemistry to completely develop. In these players, we have two world-class strikers and with both of them firing on both cylinders, there is no telling just how good Arsenal could be.
Are you an Arsenal fan? Which Arsenal player are you most excited about seeing in the preseason tour?
PRESEASON SCHEDULE
Atletico Madrid on 26th July
PSG on 28th July
Chelsea on 1st August
And Sevilla on 4th August
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