Arsenal are at Easter Road this evening to take on Hibernian in our first pre-season game of the summer.
The Gunners travelled to Scotland yesterday and are set to spend the next four days there. Arsenal face Rangers on Saturday, but all the focus is on Hibs at the moment, and a win would be the perfect way to begin our pre-season.
Bukyo Saka, Granit Xhaka and Bernd Leno are on holiday after their participation in Euro 2020. Gabriel Martinelli is away with Brazil for the Olympics, while Gabriel Magalhaes is ruled out with an injury.
Most other players are available for selection and Mikel Arteta has picked an interesting lineup. (Arsenal.com)
Okonkwo makes his debut, Auba starts
Arthur Okonkwo gets the nod in goal after signing a new long-term contract at the club just a few days ago. He makes his senior debut for Arsenal this evening and Arteta has already labelled him as a ‘huge talent‘.
Cedric Soares and Sead Kolasinac start either side of Harry Clarke and Pablo Mari, who feature in central defence.
Read more: Three Arsenal wonderkids Arteta could use against Hibernian today, including 6ft 4in ‘huge talent’
Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Mohamed Elneny start in the middle of the park and it will be interesting to see how the young Englishman fares in his preferred position after a decent spell away on loan at West Brom last season.
Skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang starts on the left and Reiss Nelson is given a start on the right flank. Willian gets the nod ahead of Emile Smith Rowe in the number 10 role, which is a surprise to many people.
Eddie Nketiah leads the line tonight with Alexandre Lacazette having to settle for a spot on the bench.
Arsenal XI vs Hibernian: Okonkwo; Cedric, Clarke, Mari, Kolasinac; Nelson, Elneny, Maitland-Niles, Willian; Nketiah, Aubameyang
Arsenal subs vs Hibernian: Hein, Rekik, Hutchinson, Pepe, Partey, Balogun, Smith Rowe, Lacazette, Bellerín, Henry-Francis
COYG!
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