Nuremberg host Arsenal in pre-season friendly

Nuremberg are well into their preparations for the 2023/24 season under new coach Cristian Fiel as they look to improve on last term’s 14th-placed finish in the second division when they kick off the new campaign away at Hansa Rostock on Sunday, 30 July. This will be the fifth of six friendly matches for Der Club, having already beaten Hersbruck (13-1), Pardubitz (1-0), Diosgyori (3-1) and drawn with Hartberg (2-2) in the two weeks building up to this encounter. Fiel has given playing time to new Japanese attacking duo Daichi Hayashi and Kanji Okunuki, with the latter on target against Diosgyori, while Welsh centre-back James Lawrence has seemingly cemented his place in the back four.

Runners-up in the English Premier League in 2022/23, Arsenal are in Germany as they train at adidas HQ in nearby Herzogenaurach, having kicked off their pre-season with a 1-1 draw against Watford on Saturday. They also visited Nuremberg last year for an entertaining friendly that saw Mikel Arteta’s side come from 2-0 down to win 5-3 thanks to a Gabriel Jesus brace. The Brazilian is among the big names the Gunners are set to field at the Max-Morlock-Stadion, having returned from the break last week alongside the likes of Ben White, Gabriel, Leandro Trossard, Eddie Nketiah and ex-Hoffenheim man Reiss Nelson. Bayer Leverkusen youth product Kai Havertz is also part of the squad having joined up following his summer switch from cross-town rivals Chelsea. Former RB Leipzig midfielder Emile Smith Rowe is amongst the players not yet set to return after his successful exploits at the UEFA U21 Euros.Watch: Highlights from Arsenal's visit to Nuremberg last year

Match stats

Der Club were once Germany’s record champions with nine titles, until overtaken by Bayern Munich in 1987. They still rank second and are also four-time DFB Cup winners.

Probable teams

Nuremberg: Mathenia – Gyamerah, Gürleyen, Lawrence, Handwerker – Castrop, Geis, Schleimer – Hayashi, Duah, Okunuki

Out: Schindler (cruciate ligament), Wekesser (cruciate ligament)

Doubtful: -

Coach: Cristian Fiel

Arsenal: Okonkwo – White, Holding, Gabriel, Cedric Soares – Lewis-Skelly, Partey, Odegaard – Trossard, Gabriel Jesus, Nelson

Out: Elneny (knee), Martinelli (ankle), Smith Rowe (holiday), Turner (holiday)

Doubtful: Saliba (back), Tomiyasu (knee)

Remaining touring squad: Hein, Ramsdale, Runarsson, Tomiyasu, Saliba, Walters, Trusty, Zinchenko, Tierney, Kiwior, Elneny, Jorginho, Havertz, Sambi Lokonga, Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri, Vieira, Balogun, Martinelli, Nketiah, Marquinhos, Saka, Pepe

Coach: Mikel Arteta