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Football London
Football London
Sport
James Benge

Confirmed Arsenal XI vs Fiorentina: Nelson, Nketiah start as Unai Emery restores back three

Unai Emery has named Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah in a youthful Arsenal side that will line up in a 3-4-2-1

Nketiah, the match-winner against Bayern Munich in Los Angeles, will also be supported by Bukayo Saka whilst Robbie Burton and James Olayinka are the midfield two.

Arsenal's experience comes in defence, where Carl Jenkinson and Sead Kolasinac are the wing-backs flanking a three-man defence of Nacho Monreal, Shkodran Mustafi and Calum Chambers.

Emiliano Martinez starts for the first time on the tour. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is out with a slight knock which he suffered before the Bayern Munich game.

With temperatures hitting up to 36 degrees Celsius at the Bank of America Stadium a repeat of the energetic pressing Emery's side deployed in wins over Bayern Munich and Colorado Rapids seems unlikely. Indeed the game is expected to be interrupted by two water breaks per half.

"Of course if it is too warm the weather you can't really work really hard like what we did in LA or in London so if it is really hot like 35 degrees you have to make another plan for training and I’m sure the coach knows what he will do," Mesut Ozil said.

James Benge previews Arsenal vs Fiorentina as Gunners take over Charlotte

"Let's see how we will train over there. We are looking forward to the game against Fiorentina.

"It will be a different game. You know as a player it is always nice, especially in pre-season."

Arsenal XI: Martinez; Chambers, Mustafi, Monreal; Jenkinson, Olayinka, Burton, Kolasinac; Nelson, Saka; Nketiah

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