Arsenal fans have been left excited ahead of their final pre-season friendly with Barcelona after Unai Emery named Joe Willock and Reiss Nelson in the starting XI.
The two youngsters have featured heavily throughout pre-season and are expected to be involved among the Gunners’ first-team regularly this season.
Nelson spent last season on loan at Hoffenheim scoring seven times in 23 appearances for the Bundesliga outfit.
Willock, by contrast, remained at the Emirates and made an impression during brief cameo appearances in the Premier League and FA Cup matches.
While supporters were pleased to see them in the starting XI, many were disappointed by the omission of Dani Cabellos, who was left on the bench.
The creative Spaniard has signed on a season-long loan deal from Real Madrid but was left out of the Gunners’ midfield by Unai Emery.
Granit Xhaka, Willock and Mesut Ozil were preferred in the centre of the park instead, much to the frustration of some supporters of the north London club.
This is the full Arsenal team to face Barcelona: Leno; Maitland-Niles, Chambers, Sokratis, Monreal; Willock, Xhaka; Mkhitaryan, Ozil, Nelson; Aubameyang.
And here’s a look at how some Arsenal fans have reacted to the team news on social media.
