Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Arsenal news: New face spotted in training ahead of FA Cup clash with Man Utd
ARSENAL fans will have noticed an unfamiliar face taking part in training yesterday as the Gunners geared up to take on Manchester United in the FA Cup Fourth Round.
Arsenal: Team train ahead of Manchester United clash
The Arsenal squad braved freezing temperatures as they ran through their final preparations ahead of Friday’s FA Cup clash with Manchester United (7.55pm).
Unai Emery’s side were put through their paces at a snowy London Colney training ground, with the first-team squad looking in good spirits following their win over Chelsea last time out.
Arsenal comfortably saw off the Blues thanks to goals from Alexandre Lacazette and Laurent Koscielny, leaving them just three points off their London rivals.
Attention now turns to the FA Cup, with Emery looking to bag a result against a side that has enjoyed seven consecutive victories under interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Despite the importance of the clash, Arsenal are likely to make several changes to their starting XI as the Gunners look to keep their squad fresh.
Petr Cech, who has announced he will retire at the end of the season, is expected to start in goal with Bernd Leno given the evening off.
Meanwhile, Emiliano Martinez’s departure on loan to Reading has handed Deyan Iliev a chance to impress Emery.
The Macedonian stopper, who has rarely been seen in first-team training, is now third-choice at the club and could be handed a spot on the bench against United if Leno is left out completely.
Arsenal: Emery admits Manchester United pose ‘a very big test’
Iliev was spotted taking part in drills alongside Cech on Wednesday as the rest of the squad geared up for Friday’s clash.
It wasn’t all hard work though as Stephan Lichtsteiner took advantage of the weather to aim a few snowballs at photographers.
Matteo Guendouzi also looked in a good mood as he charged around the training pitches while Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were all-smiles.
Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil were both wrapped up against the elements while Emery cut an intimidating figure as he and Steve Bould oversaw the session.