Arsenal predicted lineup and team news vs Girona

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·1 Agustus 2026

Arsenal predicted lineup and team news vs Girona

Arsenal begin their preparations for the new season with a pre-season friendly away to Spanish side Girona on Saturday.

The Gunners wrapped up their last competitive campaign in dramatic fashion, reaching the UEFA Champions League final where they held Paris Saint-Germain to a 1-1 draw after extra time before narrowly losing 4-3 on penalties. Leading up to that final, Mikel Arteta’s team showed strong form in Europe, securing a 1-0 win over Atlético Madrid and earning a draw against Sporting CP. This upcoming clash with Girona represents Arsenal’s first official outing of the pre-season schedule.

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Arsenal team news

Arsenal head into this opening fixture with a heavily reduced squad, as several senior players are still unavailable following extended post-World Cup breaks.

Key names such as Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, David Raya, Mikel Merino, Martin Zubimendi, Eberechi Eze, and Noni Madueke have not yet returned to training, meaning Arteta will need to depend on squad depth and fringe options.

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In addition to those absences, injuries have further weakened the squad. Centre-back William Saliba is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a serious back injury during the tournament, while Jurriën Timber has remained in London as he continues recovery from minor surgery earlier in the summer.

Midfielder Christian Norgaard is also unavailable after sustaining a knock in training. Despite these setbacks, Arsenal still have several important players ready to feature, including Kai Havertz, Gabriel Magalhães, Gabriel Martinelli, and Viktor Gyökeres.

New signing Christos Tzolis could make his first appearance for the club in this non-competitive fixture, while goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga is expected to be named in the starting lineup.