Who’s IN and who’s OUT of Arsenal’s tour of Asia?

The pre-season preparation kicked in full earnest as Arsenal announced the squad for pre-season Asia tour. Arsene Wenger will embark on the pre-season with a strong squad. But, it is not devoid of star absentees.

Danny Welbeck, Tomas Rosicky, Alexis Sanchez and David Ospina are missing from the squad. Sanchez and Ospina are missing because they have been given an extended time-off. Their national duty in the recently concluded Copa America held in Chile warranted extra rest.

Welbeck is missing the flight because he is still recuperating from the knee injury. In fact, the English international is missing in action since the last few weeks of the season. It ruled him out of the FA cup final and England’s internationals at the end of the season. It looks like Welbeck will have to fight against time to get fit for the season.

Rosicky is not a major concern but he has suffered a minor injury on international duty with Czech Republic. It robbed him of syncing up with his national team mate Petr Cech for the first time at club level.

Cech is included in the squad and will make his first appearance in an Arsenal shirt in the tournament. It would be a precursor to a season that will finally see a strong keeper in Arsenal colors.

Also missing from the 27-man squad are the youngsters Carl Jenkinson, Yaya Sanogo, Serge Gnabry and Joel Campbell. All the four are rumoured to be going out on loan and the decision to keep them at home would only emphasize that. Wenger may not have immediate plans for these four but do not rule out long term future for any of them.

An exciting addition to the squad is the highly-rated English starlets Dan Crowley and Chris Willoch. Both these young players are 17 years old and would be itching to gain some valuable experience. This would be their best chance to impress Wenger and they look good to grab this opportunity.

There are other young players included in the squad. Chuba Akpom (19) is already part of the first-team squad and this pre-season would be another chance to cement his place. Gedion Zelalem (18 years), Alex Iwobi (19) and Jeff Reine-Adelaide (17) are going to add the excitement of young scholars on the tour.

Arsenal are expected in Singapore on Monday and will start their tournament with a game against the local side. The tournament also involves Premier League teams Everton and Stoke. This will be followed by involvement in the two-day Emirates cup.

Sridhar

Tags Akpom Cech Rosicky

18 Comments

    1. Too much politics on here..
      You r forced to love Ozil and hate Giroud when Giroud has obviously been the better of the two..
      42M vrs 12M..

  1. OT : Metro have gone too far….They are reporting that Ozil could be on his way to Juventus……..get this, for 29 million pounds…..and that sports paper that they are quoting looks like Metro Italia….

    1. 28m? Double it and inflate it…the best 10 available should be much more expensive than the best box to box midfielder.

      1. I can’t exchange Ozil for Pogba, he is no C. Ronald that can carry a team (Portugal) on his shoulders. I can only go for him. Le Coq is not in the class we Pogba. But who knows in two years time. Both did not have an initial loot-at. Pogba (Man U), Le Coq (Arsenal). Am sure if a buyer had come, Arsenal would have sold him at the beginning of last season.

  2. These young guns will only get a chance to prove themselves at top level if and only if arsenal make massive signings that will give us a major trophy…if we are for example leading the league in like seven points in February, then we can afford to give them some minutes on field but they wont get game time on the current team cz the manager realizes that the club needs trophies and hez running out of time so i even doubt he will use them in capital one cup…Good luck boys

  3. Excited to see young stars like Crowley, Zelalem, and Chuba ,though kinda surprised Gnabry didn’t make the trip.

    On Sanogo, this maybe an indication that Wenger has finally seen what we all see that he is not even CLOSE to getting into the first team and should be loaned out or sold if possible.

  4. Conspiracy theory – Rosicky and Welbeck to leave Arsenal in this window?

    OT: Cabaye to Palace and now rumours of Remy too, Pardew linking up with his old Newcastle players, good business!

    1. I would be very surprised to see Welbeck go. I think he has the right attributes and potential for us, he needs time on the pitch.

  5. RVP feels betrayed for being shown the door.

    That’s what happens when you listen to the little boy in you…boys don’t make astute decisions, adults do.

    He could have retired a gunner legend, instead of that he’s heading to Turkey with no love fron AFC or Man U fans.

    ENTIRELY DESERVED!

    1. Apparently RVP will get a pay cut. From £250,000 per week to £240,000 per week, so it isn’t about the money LOL.

      A tad bit high i think.

      1. RVP would have retired an Arsenal legend plus captain and now his name leaves a bitter taste in our mouths. I lost all respect for him after celebrating like a mad man after scoring against us (Adebayo has nothing on him).

        Let him head to Turkey, Poldi should finish top goal scorer, slap persie into two and take a selfie while at it.

  6. st giroud,walcott,akpom,adalaide
    lfwd iwobi,wilcock
    rfwd ox,wellington
    cam; ozil,zalalem,crawley
    cm; cazorla,ramsey,wilshire
    dm coqulan,arteta,flamini?
    lb nacho,gibbs
    cb merts,kosc,gabriel,chambers
    rb debuchy bellerin
    gk cecch, szezney, martinez

  7. We still need a DM and a striker or winger, even tho we have great young players coming up who play in that position ( Bielik, gnabry, Iwobi ) Lets hope they make the cut.

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