During the breaks, it has become a regularity that Arsenal will play a behind-closed-door friendly. They’ve played against the likes of Watford, Ipswich Town and Brentford, much helped by their closer proximity, and Arteta has used these games to blood youngsters, give minutes to players on the fringes and continue the momentum.
If a friendly is being planned, who Mikel Arteta might choose to select for the game is restricted both who is still at London Colney and the injury status of players too. In goal, all three keepers, Aaron Ramsdale, David Raya and Karl Hein are away with England, Spain and Estonia respectively.
This means that UEFA Champions League squad member James Hillson would be the most appropriate inclusion. Having minutes in the stopper would be helpful in case of a major injury crisis in the group.
The other two positions would be taken up by youth stars Reuell Walters and Lino Sousa. It would be great if Saliba could be available but any opportunity to rest him should certainly be taken.
In midfield, there are plenty of senior options to construct a middle three. Jorginho can be supported by Emile Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira and offers plenty of attacking threat.so under-21s youth star Khayon Edwards would be the most obvious pick from the group. Flanking the youngster would be Reiss Nelson and of course, Gabriel Martinelli who has returned too.
Arsenal XI: Hillson; Cedric, White, Walters, Sousa; Jorginho, Vieira, Smith Rowe, Nelson, Edwards, Martinelli
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