Lyon preview: A first look at Calafiori?

Howdy, a really fast Sunday weblog for you.

We’ve got our ultimate pleasant of pre-season later this afternoon once we tackle Lyon within the Emirates Cup. It’s a recreation Mikel Arteta will take significantly, as it’s the final probability to organize his workforce in a aggressive method earlier than our first Premier League recreation subsequent weekend.

Issues I’m interested in embody Riccardo Calafiori, and whether or not or not we get to see the Italian at the moment. The supervisor hinted at his inclusion after the win over Bayer Leverkusen, and it’d be good for him and the followers to see him get some minutes at the moment. He seems to be to have been absolutely concerned in coaching, at the least based mostly on the photographs, so let’s hope we get our first have a look at him afterward. My guess is a second half sub to play at left-back, however let’s see.

I’m additionally to see what occurs in midfield, and whether or not we would see a Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard triumvirate. Proper now, I feel that’s the trio that may begin the Wolves recreation, with Gabriel Jesus up entrance, and as that is the final pre-season recreation, it wouldn’t shock me if that’s what Arteta went with at the moment.

Leandro Trossard was superb towards Leverkusen, however a part of me was a bit shocked we solely noticed Gabriel Martinelli for a brief cameo in the direction of the top. It may simply be a health factor, they’re easing him again into motion, however I’d count on/hope to see a bit extra from the Brazilian at the moment when it comes to minutes. He’s a participant who I feel we will get extra from this season, and whereas I do know it’s not as thrilling to consider that as a substitute of a shiny new attacking signing, extra output from Martinelli can solely be a very good factor.

Past that, I’m unsure what else we’ll see that’s out of the abnormal, however I’m open to a shock. Will we see Ethan Nwaneri get some minutes once more? The left-back place and the necessity to introduce Calafiori in all probability makes it a little bit harder for Myles Lewis-Skelly to function, however Nwaneri has had minutes in each pre-season recreation, and his presence in midfield – with Fabio Vieira used out extensive – has been fairly fascinating, so let’s see what occurs.

There doesn’t seem like a lot else happening, the rumour-mill is a bit quiet this Sunday, however may choose up once more early subsequent week. I can’t think about Arteta goes to provide something away when he speaks after the sport, however let’s see. Anyway, we’ll have a report and a few post-game stuff on Arseblog Information a bit afterward.

For now, have an awesome Sunday.