Arsenal look to be taking a young squad to Belarus for Thursday’s Europa League meeting with BATE Borisov.
Alexis Sanchez was in training for the Gunners, but Laurent Koscielny, Sead Kolašinac and Mesut Özil were all rested. Alex Iwobi is out with an injury.
Mertesacker, Elneny, Xhaka, Wilshere, Mustafi, Holding, Lacazette, Walcott, Monreal, Bellerin and Sanchez all trained.
— Jeorge Bird (@jeorgebird) September 27, 2017
Giroud and Ramsey trained. Koscielny, Kolasinac and Ozil rested. Iwobi not involved.
— Jeorge Bird (@jeorgebird) September 27, 2017
There are also a number of youngsters training with the first-team.
Nelson, Dasilva, Willock, McGuane, Dragomir, Gilmour, Nketiah all trained with first-team today along with Akpom and Maitland-Niles.
— Jeorge Bird (@jeorgebird) September 27, 2017
Though many of these players have all been involved with the first-team squad in some capacity in recent weeks, Marcus McGuane, Vlad Dragomir and Charlie Gilmour are the surprise names on the list. Goalkeeper Deyan Iliev reportedly also joined the group.
However, youngsters regularly join the first-team in training without playing in the subsequent matches, so that alone isn’t enough to suggest any of them will be involved.
Wilshere, Holding, Ospina, Elneny, Walcott, Mustafi and Macey amongst those making the trip.
— Jeorge Bird (@jeorgebird) September 27, 2017
Akpom selected to travel with the squad as well.
— Jeorge Bird (@jeorgebird) September 27, 2017
First senior call-ups for Dragomir and Gilmour. At least one of them will be on the bench.
— Jeorge Bird (@jeorgebird) September 27, 2017
Charlie Gilmour is perhaps the most surprising call-up, as he played on Monday for the u23s and it was actually his first start for the side, having previously been involved with the u18s.
It’s normal for an additional player to be taken along for European matches in case they’re needed to fill a spot in emergency situations, but bringing both implies that at least one will be on the bench.
Olivier Giroud, Marcus McGuane, Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nketiah, Joe Willock and Josh Dasilva also travelled with the team.