Arsenal one step away from unleashing dream starting XI vs AC Milan

Arsenal one step away from unleashing dream starting XI vs AC Milan

Arsenal fly to Asia later this week as pre-season plans ramp up

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta talks to his players and staff after a training session

This time next week, Arsenal will be preparing to face AC Milan in their first pre-season friendly.

The Gunners are currently in La Manga, Spain for a warm weather training camp and are set to return to London in the coming days before then jetting off once more. The squad will fly to Singapore on Saturday and while there will face AC Milan on Wednesday, July 23 and Newcastle on Sunday, July 27. After those two friendlies, the north Londoners will make the journey to Hong Kong where they will face arch rivals Tottenham on July 31.

Arsenal have reached an agreement in principle with Sporting CP to sign Viktor Gyokeres, football.london understands, with the Gunners agreeing to pay £54.8million (€63.5million) guaranteed plus £8.6million (€10million) in add-ons. The prolific striker is set to have a medical in the coming days and should be an Arsenal player by the time the squad jet off to Asia, meaning we could see the Swedish international against AC Milan.

Another player who could make his Arsenal bow against Milan is Noni Madueke. The tricky winger will complete a £52million move from Chelsea this week and will act as cover for Bukayo Saka in the weeks, months and years ahead. It’s possible the Englishman is also deployed on the left-hand side, although he will have to fight Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard for that role. Of course, there is also Kai Havertz who Arteta is a huge fan of, while Ethan Nwaneri is still on his holidays after the Hale Ender helped England U21s win the European Under-21 Championship.

Dream Arsenal XI vs AC Milan: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli.