- Arsenal make approach to sign Mikel Merino this summer
- Arsenal initiate ‘discussions’ to sign PSG ace Fabian Ruiz
- Arsenal considering signing Santiago Giménez this summer
- Arsenal could submit bid to sign Victor Osimhen this summer
- Arsenal ‘very interested in hiring’ Mikel Merino this summer
- Arsenal told they are set to made ‘exciting’ signing in Calafiori
- Arsenal target Mikel Merino attracted to join this summer
- Arsenal to hold talks to sign Baris Alper Yilmaz this summer
- Arsenal to launch bid to sign Marc Guehi this summer
- Arsenal keen on signing Real Sociedad ace Mikel Merino
[Teams] Arsenal vs Liverpool: Martinez and Elneny start, Saliba on bench
FA Cup winners Arsenal take on Premier League champions Liverpool in the Community Shield at Wembley this afternoon.
Mikel Arteta has opted to start Emiliano Martinez in goal with Bernd Leno on the bench. William Saliba has to settle for a place among the substitutes too as Rob Holding starts in defence despite being linked with a move to Newcastle.
David Luiz and Kieran Tierney also start along with Hector Bellerin on the right. Ainsley Maitland-Niles gets another start for Arsenal despite being tipped to leave this summer while Mo Elneny also starts in midfield alongside Granit Xhaka.
Bukayo Saka lines-up in attack along with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Eddie Nketiah so the likes of Emile Smith Rowe, Joe Willock and Sead Kolasinac have to make do with places on the bench.
Summer signing Willian isn’t involved as he’s only had a few days training while there is no sign of Lucas Torreira, Mesut Ozil or Matteo Guendouzi in the Arsenal squad.
As expected, Liverpool are virtually at full strength with only Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jordan Henderson missing for the champions so it’s going to be a tough game for us this afternoon.
These are the line-ups:
Arsenal
Martinez; Bellerin, Luiz, Holding, Tierney; Maitland-Niles, Elneny, Xhaka; Saka, Nketiah, Aubameyang
Subs: Leno, Saliba, Cedric, Nelson, Willock, Kolasinac, Smith Rowe, John-Jules, Olayinka
Liverpool
Alisson, Williams, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Milner, Salah, Firmino, Mane.
Subs: Adrian, Koumetio, Tsimikas, Keita, Grujic, Jones, Minamino, Elliott, Brewster