Arsenal are set to take on Manchester United in a pre-season friendly in Los Angeles, as both sides continue their preparations for the upcoming campaign.
Mikel Arteta will have a stronger side to pick from as Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Magalhaes have now linked up with the squad, but England stars Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka will still be absent.
Arsenal are expected to pick a strong side to face Man United, in a repeat fixture of last year’s pre-season clash in New York, which saw Arteta’s side lose 2-0, and Erik ten Hag’s side caused fury with heavy challenges.
After several academy stars started in Arsenal’s draw with Bournemouth, many may now drop out of the starting XI, but teenage sensation Ethan Nwaneri should keep his starting spot.
Ethan Nwaneri should start for Arsenal against Manchester United
Nwaneri started and impressed against Bournemouth, and the 17-year-old is the highest-rated prospect in the Hale End Academy.
It has been mooted that he will receive further first-team opportunities next season, having appeared in two Premier League games, and now is the perfect chance for Nwaneri to gain experience against top-level opposition without competitive pressure.
Jorginho and Martin Odegaard are likely to start in midfield, but Nwaneri should be given the chance to test himself playing alongside two top-quality midfielders against a tough team in Man United.
Ethan Nwaneri can follow in Kobbie Mainoo’s footsteps
When Arsenal faced Man United last year, Kobbie Mainoo started the game against the likes of Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard.
Mainoo, like Nwaneri, was a 17-year-old who had made just one Premier League appearance in the previous season.
He was given a chance against Arsenal with little at stake in a friendly game, but sharing the pitch with such high-level players was clearly beneficial for his development. One year on, Mainoo shared the pitch with Rice again, as the pair started in midfield together for England as they reached the final of Euro 2024.
Nwaneri is now in the same position as Mainoo was a year ago, and significant minutes against Man United will be an ideal platform to build upon as he breaks into the first team.
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