Arsenal return to pre-season action on Wednesday afternoon as they take on Bayer Leverkusen at the Emirates Stadium in a friendly match.
The Gunners have just made their return from a pre-season tour of the USA, where Mikel Arteta’s side took on Premier League opposition.
Arsenal beat Manchester United 2-1 in the opening friendly, though they would fall to defeat in the following penalty shootout.
Liverpool were the next friendly for Arsenal, though that ended in a 2-1 defeat to their new manager Arne Slot.
With the squad now back on home soil and with plenty of their international players back available, their next task is a friendly against Bayer Leverkusen.
While the main goal of the afternoon will be to raise fitness, Arteta and Edu may well be able to scout a few transfer opportunities from their opponents.
So with that said, here’s a look at three players Arsenal could scout from their clash with Bayer Leverkusen.
- READ MORE: Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen – How to watch, team news, prediction and everything you need to know
Victor Boniface
Arsenal are on the hunt for a striker, with moves for Dominic Solanke, Viktor Gyokeres and Victor Osimhen all touted.
However, the Gunners could get a closer look at another option in Bayer Leverkusen star Victor Boniface.
The 23-year-old impressed during the first half of last season, following his move from Union Saint-Gilloise to the Bundesliga.
Injury struck and kept Boniface out for the majority of the run-in, which may well have quelled any rumours of an exit.
However, the numbers are impressive as the Nigerian international bagged 21 goals in 34 games across all competitions.
In terms of his all-around play, Boniface is more than capable in duels both on the ground and in the air, while his biggest strength is finding areas to receive the ball in to create a chance for himself.
Florian Wirtz
Another option Arsenal can scout this summer is Florian Wirtz, another academy graduate of Bayer Leverkusen who has risen to the top.
While a deal would be unlikely for this summer, the 21-year-old has all of the quality now to be a top player and the promise for the future to be even better.
The attacking midfielder put up 38 goal involvements last season across 49 appearances in all competitions.
Wirtz played a key role in helping Leverkusen reach the heights in the previous campaign, with two trophies to his name and a Player of the Season award for the Bundesliga.
By next summer, the German international will have just two years remaining on his contract, which may open up the chance for a deal.
Arteta may be able to steal a march on his rivals by getting an up-close look at the youngster before a transfer battle ensues.
Jeremie Frimpong
Another star of the Bayer Leverkusen squad, Jeremie Frimpong is often praised for his pure output from a wing-back role.
The 23-year-old managed 26 goal involvements last season across all competitions, becoming heavily involved in the attacking phases of play.
The Netherlands international is still young and his numbers could improve, but his greatest strength may be his versatility.
While it’s unlikely he would play in a back four, Frimpong is capable of playing either a full-back position or as a wing-back.
His attacking returns and average positions suggest he can play as more of a winger, which gives the options of featuring him on the right or as a right-footed left-winger.
With plenty of promise for the future, the former Celtic man may be worth keeping an eye on for transfer windows to come.
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