Arsenal take on Newcastle United in Singapore in the second game of their pre-season tour of Asia on Sunday.
Mikel Arteta will be looking for his players to continue building up their fitness ahead of the new season in the clash at Singapore’s National Stadium, as well as granting some youngsters some minutes.
Arsenal beat AC Milan 1-0 in their first pre-season clash, courtesy of an unorthodox finish from Bukayo Saka.
The Gunners will want to replicate this result against the Magpies in front of their jubilant Singaporean fanbase.
Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Newcastle
Jurrien Timber and Gabriel Magalhaes both missed the Milan game, and neither are expected to be ready to feature against Eddie Howe’s team on Sunday.
The Newcastle clash will also come too soon for Viktor Gyokeres, who is yet to fly to Southeast Asia to join up with his new teammates.
Aside from these absentees, Arteta should have a largely fit and available squad to select from.
Kepa Arrizabalaga could come in for David Raya in between the sticks, with the two goalkeepers likely to play a half each.
Meanwhile, Ben White will retain his spot at right-back with Timber’s absence, and Myles Lewis-Skelly could come in on the other side for Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Cristhian Mosquera is in line to make his debut, and Arteta may be eager to deploy him from the start to get him up to speed with the player he’s most likely to partner in cup games next season, Jakub Kiwior.
In midfield, Martin Zubimendi should make his full debut, while Mikel Merino needs some more significant minutes after only making a cameo on Wednesday.
As for the front three, Arteta may only be inclined to make a single change, most likely at left wing, with Leandro Trossard replacing Gabriel Martinelli.
Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Newcastle: Kepa, White, Mosquera, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Zubimendi, Merino, Odegaard, Saka, Havertz, Trossard.
Andre Harriman-Annous deserves some minutes off the bench for Arsenal
Kai Havertz played 79 minutes against Milan, more than any other Arsenal player due to the lack of alternative striker options.
This won’t be an issue after the game against Newcastle with Gyokeres arriving, although the German shouldn’t be overburdened in a second successive pre-season game.
Thus, Arteta should withdraw him at a much earlier point against the Magpies, and grant the only other natural centre-forward in the travelling squad an opportunity.
17-year-old Andre Harriman-Annous is with the Arsenal first team in Singapore, and Arteta should take a look at him on Sunday.
The prolific young striker scored eight goals in 12 appearances in the under-18 Premier League last season, and deserves a first-team look in during pre-season.
Havertz shouldn’t play any longer than an hour, and Harriman-Annous should be the man to replace him, rather than a player who is likely to depart this summer, such as Reiss Nelson.
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