Arsenal and Manchester United Gear Up for Preseason Showdown

Arsenal and Manchester United are ramping up their preseason preparations as they meet for an exciting friendly at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles this Sunday. The Gunners recently kicked off their U.S. tour with a 1-1 draw against Bournemouth, where they triumphed in the penalty shootout.

Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, has taken this opportunity to give younger players a chance to shine alongside seasoned stars like Ben White and Martin Odegaard, who skipped Euro 2024. Meanwhile, Manchester United is coming off a strong performance, having defeated Rangers 2-0, with Amad Diallo scoring a standout goal.

As both teams get ready for the upcoming season, several players are eager to impress their managers and secure their spots when the real action kicks off in August. However, potential transfers could shake things up at the last minute, leaving some players anxious about their futures.

For Arsenal, Arteta is expected to tweak his lineup from their match against Bournemouth. With lots of senior players still out after international duties, it’s uncertain if Emile Smith Rowe will feature, given his rumored transfer to Fulham. Eddie Nketiah started against Bournemouth, and his involvement in this match seems likely.

It’s predicted that Martin Odegaard, Leandro Trossard, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Jorginho will all get starting positions since they came off the bench last match. If Riccardo Calafiori’s transfer goes through before Sunday, it may be too soon for him to make an appearance.

On the other hand, Manchester United’s manager, Erik ten Hag, has showcased new signing Leny Yoro, who will likely keep his spot in defense while Harry Maguire continues to recover from his injury. Jadon Sancho had a decent run in the previous match and might start again unless transfer talks with Paris Saint-Germain escalate.

Amad Diallo is anticipated to be a key player again, along with Rasmus Hojlund, who proudly wears the No. 9 jersey this season. Toby Collyer is also expected to continue impressing alongside Casemiro in midfield.

As we get closer to the match, both teams are filled with excitement and anticipation for this friendly, which is a crucial part of their preparations for the season ahead.