Arsenal have announced their starting line-up for the pre-season friendly against Como at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday. Following a second consecutive defeat, this time to Borussia Dortmund, manager Mikel Arteta has made seven changes, including a debut for England forward Eberechi Eze as the Gunners look to regain momentum.
This match holds weight for Arsenal as they prepare for their upcoming Champions League campaign, aiming to bounce back after the disappointment of their first home match since lifting the Premier League title last season. Como, under ex-Arsenal star Cesc Fabregas, had a remarkable season, finishing fourth in Serie A to secure Champions League qualification, making for an intriguing contest.
Arsenal’s revised starting XI against Como
Arteta’s revised team sees the introduction of players including Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli, alongside Eze’s much-anticipated first appearance in pre-season. This shake-up aims to reinvigorate a squad that has struggled in recent outings.
Arsenal starting XI: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Theo Julienne, Marli Salmon, Gabriel Magalhaes, Piero Hincapie, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Eberechi Eze, Ethan Nwaneri, Max Dowman, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli
Arsenal substitutes: David Raya, Tommy Setford, Illan Meslier, Cristhian Mosquera, Ben White, Martin Odegaard, Viktor Gyokeres, Christos Tzolis, Noni Madueke, Fabio Vieira, Mikel Merino, Kai Havertz, Riccardo Calafiori, Bruno Guimaraes, Josh Ogunnaike
Como’s line-up for the clash
Como retain several players from their recent victory over Famalicao, showcasing their continuity and team chemistry as they prepare for the upcoming Serie A season. The presence of new signing Trevoh Chalobah on the bench adds depth to their squad.
Como starting XI: Jean Butez, Marc-Oliver Kempf, Alex Valle, Tasos Douvikas, Jacobo Ramon, Yan Couto, Martin Baturina, Maximo Perrone, Mattia Liberali, Lucas Da Cunha, Assane Diao
Como substitutes: Mauro Vigorito, Alberto Dossena, Edoardo Goldaniga, Maxence Caqueret, Alvaro Morata, Alessandro Gabrielloni, Adrian Lahdo, Jesus Rodriguez, Nicolas Kuhn, Noel Tornqvist, Luis Milla, Trevoh Chalobah, Kaiki, Emil Audero, Alieu Fadera
Where to watch the Arsenal vs Como friendly
The match is set to kick off at 19:30 BST (14:30 ET), with live coverage available on Arsenal’s YouTube channel. For viewers in other regions, further details can be found on Arsenal’s official website.
The SportiveNews view
For Arsenal, this friendly provides an opportunity to recalibrate ahead of the Champions League. With new signings featuring prominently, a positive result could set the tone for a season filled with high expectations following last season’s triumph in the Premier League. Como’s formidable form in Serie A last season presents a valuable test ahead of their own league campaign.
Source: Based on reporting from 101 Great Goals. SportiveNews rewrote and analysed the story independently for football readers.
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