Unai Emery has named a youthful squad for Arsenal's first pre-season game, handing starts to Gabriel Martinelli and Tyreece John-Jules against the Colorado Rapids in Denver.
With a game to come against Bayern Munich in Los Angeles only 48 hours after this match it was inevitable Emery would opt to hold some of his best players in reserve and examine the top young prospects who have travelled to the United States.
Brazilian forward Gabriel Martinelli is making his first appearance in an Arsenal shirt. The 18-year-old is the only signing the Gunners have made this summer and joined from Sao Paulo state side Ituano for a fee that could eventually reach up to £6million.
The likes of Mesut Ozil, Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are in the matchday squad but there is a youthful flavour to Emery's side, with James Olayinka, Robbie Burton and Zech Medley more familiar to followers of Under-23 football than the first team.
Matt Macey will have a chance to prove his worth as a second reserve goalkeeper with Emiliano Martinez established as Bernd Leno's back-up.
Meanwhile John-Jules and Eddie Nketiah could find themselves vying with each other to prove to Emery that they can be the third-choice striker behind Aubameyang and Lacazette.
Emile Smith Rowe is still recovering from the groin injury that niggled him last season whilst Hector Bellerin and Rob Holding are also focusing on fitness work.
Arsenal XI: Macey, Jenkinson, Chambers, Medley, Thompson; Olayinka, Burton; Martinelli, John-Jules, Saka; Nketiah
