Today’s Emirates Cup match between Arsenal and Sevilla is their final preseason match before the regular season begins next week.
Although Mikel Arteta’s team has looked strong all summer, they lost their unbeaten streak in a midweek match against Brentford that took place behind closed doors.
Obviously, it’s challenging to place too much weight on non-competitive games, but there’s little doubt that the 4-0 thrashing of Chelsea was thrilling for a bunch of fans who have watched their club make significant purchases once again this summer.
All of Kieran Tierney, Emile Smith Rowe, and Takehiro Tomiyasu has been involved in training since the squad returned to London from their impressive United States tour, while Arteta has played down suggestions that in-form star signing Gabriel Jesus picked up anything other than a slight knock during the Chelsea game in Orlando.
Given not many of Arteta’s key players featured in the loss to Brentford, it seems reasonable to expect a strong starting lineup today as that opening Premier League trip to Crystal Palace looms on Friday night.
Arsenal predicted XI: Ramsdale; Cedric, White, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Xhaka, Elneny, Odegaard; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
Injured: Fabio Vieira (foot)
