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Arsenal team news: Predicted 4–2-3-1 line-up vs Angers - No Lacazette or Pepe
ARSENAL are facing Angers in France this evening with Alexandre Lacazette ruled out as boss Unai Emery is expected to field a young side in their penultimate pre-season friendly.
Arsenal: Unai Emery provides update on Alexandre Lacazette
Arsenal boss Unai Emery is not expected to take a chance on Lacazette after the 28-year-old injured his ankle during the club’s 2-1 pre-season defeat to his former club Lyon in the Emirates Cup.
Although Lacazette left the stadium on Sunday wearing a protective boot the club are optimistic about the severity of the injury.
As a result, Emery is expected to give Eddie Nketiah another chance to prove to the Spaniard why he should stay at the club next season rather than be sent out on loan.
The 20-year-old has made 19 appearances for Arsenal in all competitions over the past two seasons and has scored three goals.
However, he can’t stop scoring this pre-season having found the back of the net three times in four games.
Playing behind the boy from Lewisham is expected to be 19-year-old Joe Willock, who has also impressed during the summer and is staking a claim for a place in the first-team next season.
On either side of Willock is expected to be Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and 19-year-old Reiss Nelson.
Nelson spent last season on loan at Germain side Hoffenheim, where he scored seven goals in 19 Bundesliga appearances for the club.
Arsenal: Emery to continue ‘improving’ squad
Arsenal’s £72million signing Nicolas Pepe is expected to be finalised later this week and the 24-year-old could make his debut against Barcelona on Sunday.
New signing Dani Ceballos could make his first start in the Red and White strip after the Spaniard came off the bench to face Lyon.
The 22-year-old, who is currently on a season-long loan from Real Madrid, admits he wants to follow in the footsteps of Santi Cazorla and Cesc Fabregas at the club.
Ceballos could be joined by Matteo Guendouzi in the centre of the park, with the 20-year-old also reportedly in line for improved terms on his current £40,000-a-week contract.
Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Calum Chambers are expected to keep their central pairing in defence, with Nacho Monreal on their left and Carl Jenkinson expected to come in at right-back. Leno is also expected to keep his place in goal.
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Arsenal predicted line-up vs Angers
(4-2-3-1): Leno, Jenkinson, Papastathopoulos, Chambers, Monreal, Guendouzi, Ceballos, Willock, Nelson, Aubameyang, Nketiah