Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed his lineup for the Gunners’ pre-season friendly against Newcastle United, with several eye-catching changes from their recent outing against AC Milan. The match is being held at the National Stadium in Singapore, as part of Arsenal’s Asian summer tour.
Fresh from a narrow 1-0 win over Milan on Wednesday, Arteta has opted to rotate once again, but this time with more emphasis on integrating new signings and testing tactical combinations. One of the most notable inclusions is Martin Zubimendi, who makes his first start in Arsenal colours after his high-profile summer switch from Real Sociedad.
Zubimendi is joined in midfield by another new arrival, Mikel Merino, who will be operating just behind the attacking trio. Also starting is Myles Lewis-Skelly, the highly-rated academy product who continues to make a strong impression during pre-season. In attack, Leandro Trossard returns to the XI alongside Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz, providing Arsenal with flair and creativity.
One surprise omission is Cristhian Mosquera, who joined Arsenal from Valencia just two days ago. The centre-back is not in the squad for today’s game, with the club stating that he’s undergoing additional assessments and adaptation work. It’s expected that his first minutes will come later in the tour.
Another new signing, Viktor Gyokeres, is also unavailable to feature but is already in Singapore. The Swedish striker completed his move from Sporting CP late Saturday and will be presented to the crowd before kickoff at around 7:15 pm local time (12:15 pm UK). The club hopes to build excitement among fans ahead of his integration into the squad.
Arsenal’s defensive line still lacks Gabriel Magalhaes and Jurrien Timber, both of whom remain sidelined through injury. Arteta addressed their situations ahead of the match, explaining: “Gabby felt something in training, so we didn’t want to take any risks. He should be back within a week. Jurrien is progressing well and could rejoin group sessions soon.”
The starting lineup reflects a mix of experienced internationals and youthful prospects, showcasing Arsenal’s depth heading into the 2025/26 season. Aaron Ramsdale is once again benched, with David Raya starting in goal and forming the backline with Ben White, William Saliba, and Riccardo Calafiori — another newcomer who impressed against Milan.
One notable tactical tweak is the deployment of Lewis-Skelly at left-back, a bold decision that could indicate Arteta’s interest in testing the teenager’s versatility. Ethan Nwaneri, another academy gem, starts in midfield, continuing his strong pre-season trajectory.
The bench is stacked with talent, including new goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard, and Gabriel Martinelli. This depth allows Arteta to experiment with combinations and build chemistry ahead of the Premier League opener.
Arsenal starting XI vs Newcastle: Raya; White, Saliba, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly; Merino, Zubimendi, Nwaneri; Trossard, Saka, Havertz.
Substitutes: Arrizabalaga, Setford, Rojas-Fedorushchenko, Nichols, Salmon, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Norgaard, Lokonga, Copley, Rice, Dowman, Odegaard, Kabia, Nelson, Martinelli, Harriman-Annous.
As excitement builds in Singapore, Arsenal’s fanbase will be closely watching how the new recruits gel with the squad. Pre-season might not bring silverware, but it certainly lays the groundwork for what promises to be a pivotal season for Arteta and his evolving team.