Kick off: 3am
Arsenal and Manchester United will kick their preseason preparations up a notch on Sunday when they meet at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
The Gunners drew 1-1 with Bournemouth before winning a penalty shootout in the opening match of their tour of the United States. Mikel Arteta handed opportunities to a few youngsters to impress alongside more established stars such as Ben White and Martin Odegaard, who are part of the tour having not been involved at Euro 2024.
United were comfortable 2-0 winners over Rangers in Scotland before heading to the U.S. for their own tour. Amad Diallo scored a brilliant goal to give the Red Devils a win that they may have felt they needed after manager Erik ten Hag criticised their application in a 1-0 friendly loss to Rosenborg.
Plenty of players will be determined to start this fixture to show their respective managers that they should be involved when the season proper gets going in August. Others may find themselves left out at the last moment should a potential transfer to another club reach a breakthrough.
The Sporting News looks at the latest team news and possible lineups for this match.
Arsenal vs. Man United predicted lineups, starting 11, team news
Arsenal started with a mixture of first-team players and youngsters in their match against Bournemouth. Although many senior stars are still on holiday following Euro 2024 and the Copa America, it’s likely that Arteta will change up his lineup for this game.
Emile Smith Rowe did not get off the bench against Bournemouth and it feels unlikely he will play against United if his transfer to Fulham is close to completion. Eddie Nketiah has also been linked with a move away from the Gunners, but he started against Bournemouth and will likely be involved again.
Arteta will probably hand starts to Martin Odegaard, Leandro Trossard, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jorginho, all of whom came on as subs in the draw with the Cherries. Should Riccardo Calafiori’s deal be completed before this game, it’s still highly unlikely he will be involved so quickly after his transfer.
Arsenal predicted XI (4-3-3 right to left): Hein (GK) — White, Timber, Kiwior, Zinchenko — Odegaard, Jorginho, Nwaneri — Trossard, Jesus, Nelson.
Injured: Tomiyasu
Suspended: N/A
Ten Hag threw new signing Leny Yoro straight into action in the 2-0 win over Rangers, and the teenager could well keep his place in defence given Harry Maguire is still working on his recovery from injury.
Jadon Sancho had a good 45 minutes in Edinburgh and could keep his place in the team, although should there be any development in reported transfer talks with Paris Saint-Germain, the winger may well drop out.
Amad Diallo was brilliant against Rangers and will probably start again. Rasmus Hojlund, who has taken the No. 9 jersey for this season, is also in line to play. Toby Collyer has also impressed so far in preseason and could partner Casemiro in midfield again.
Man United predicted XI (4-2-3-1 right to left): Onana (GK) —Wan-Bissaka, Yoro, Evans, Murray — Casemiro, Collyer — Amad, Mount, Sancho — Hojlund.
Injured: Maguire (doubt), Malacia
Suspended: N/A
Arsenal tour squad for 2024 preseason
Arteta named a 26-man roster for Arsenal’s preseason tour ahead of the 2024/25 season.
Goalkeepers: Karl Hein, Tommy Setford, Lucas Nygaard, Alexei Rojas
Defenders: Ben White, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jurrien Timber, Josh Nichols, Jakub Kiwior, Ayden Heaven, Omar Rekik
Midfielders: Thomas Partey, Jorginho, Michal Rosiak, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Martin Odegaard, Emile Smith Rowe, Fabio Vieira, Ethan Nwaneri, Salah–Eddine Oulad M’Hand, Jimi Gower
Forwards: Leandro Trossard, Reiss Nelson, Charles Sagoe Jr, Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah
Man United tour squad for 2024 preseason
United’s tour squad comprises 29 players, though changes are of course possible depending on transfers.
Goalkeepers: Tom Heaton, Demot Mee, Andre Onana, Radek Vitek
Defenders: Harry Amass, Rhys Bennett, Jonny Evans, Will Fish, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, Sam Murray, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Leny Yoro
Midfielders: Casemiro, Toby Collyer, Christian Eriksen, Hannibal Mejbri, Jack Fletcher, Sam Mather, Scott McTominay, Mason Mount, Maxi Oyedele, James Scanlon
Forwards: Antony, Amad Diallo, Rasmus Hojlund, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Ethan Wheatley
