Arsenal latest team news as three Hale End wonderkids in line to start in Bournemouth pre-season friendly

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Arsenal are set to begin their pre-season tour in the USA with a friendly match against fellow Premier League side AFC Bournemouth.

Arsenal beat Leyton Orient 2-0 in a behind-closed-doors friendly prior to travelling to Los Angeles, with Gabriel Jesus and Emile Smith Rowe scoring in a mixed team of senior players and youths, and they will be joined by more players out on tour.

Mikel Arteta is still without several Euro 2024 and Copa America stars, but Jorginho, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jakub Kiwior are with the squad.

It is tough to predict who will start in the friendly against Bournemouth, and those who do not may come on at half-time, but there are several Hale End Academy stars pushing for a start.

• READ MORE: Arsenal pre-season tour 2024 – destination, fixtures, how to watch and more

Arsenal team news ahead of USA pre-season clash with Bournemouth

Takehiro Tomiyasu is absent from the travelling squad after picking up an injury with training, but Jurrien Timber is fit and ready to start.

Riccardo Calafiori is closing in on a move to Arsenal, but this will not be completed in time for him to feature in the first friendly.

Ajax youth goalkeeper Tommy Setford has confirmed his move and is with the squad, and is in line to come straight in for his debut with Aaron Ramsdale and David Raya absent.

There are 10 Hale End academy stars in the squad who will be hoping to play: Alexei Rojas, Josh Nichols, Ayden Heaven, Omar Rekik, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri, Michael Rosiak, Salah–Eddine Oulad M’Hand, Jimi Gower, and Charles Sagoe Jr.

Academy stars could start in Arsenal friendly vs Bournemouth

Arsenal’s later friendlies are set to be played against Manchester United and Liverpool, and if academy players are to gain a chance on tour, it will be against Bournemouth.

Ethan Nwaneri will be hoping for a start as he aims to continue his development, whilst Myles Lewis-Skelly could even start at left-back after impressing against Leyton Orient.

Salah-Eddine Oulad M’Hand impressed in the under-21 friendly victory against Boreham Wood, and he will hope to appear on the pitch whilst fellow winger Bukayo Saka is absent.

Ayden Heaven was also impressive, and with Gabriel Magalhaes still absent after the Copa America, he could be in line to play at centre-back.