Mikel Arteta could hand debuts to two new signings for an Arsenal behind-closed-doors friendly
12:00, 18 Jul 2026
Arsenal will have a behind-closed-doors friendly before their pre-season schedule gets underway, football.london understands. This is nothing new for Mikel Arteta, who is currently with a select number of players in Marbella this week before pre-season training officially begins at the Sobha Realty Training Centre next week.
The Gunners have five matches in their schedule against Girona, Real Betis, Borussia Dortmund, Como and Manchester City (FA Community Shield) ahead of the new Premier League season. The Gunners are aiming to defend the title for the first time since the 1930s.
Behind-closed-doors games have been commonplace for Arsenal in the summer. Sometimes an Arsenal XI will face Boreham Wood in a more public affair, other times Watford, Ipswich Town or Brentford have been the opponents.
FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! Latest Gunners news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page
Watford makes plenty of sense, considering their training ground is only next door, having taken it over from the Gunners when they move to the new centre. However, the identity of the opponent, if there is to be one, remains unknown for now.
Plenty of players remain on their holidays, or in the case of those playing for Spain, France and England, remain at the World Cup with it set to conclude with the final on Sunday. Players are given a minimum of three weeks' holiday before returning to action; however, some could be given longer depending on their status.
If a friendly was to take place before the clash with Girona on August 1, there are several players who could be involved. Two new signings, Illan Meslier and Christos Tzolis.
The latter is yet to be made official, however, football.london understands that a deal with Club Brugge has been agreed, and now formalities are only between the announcement occurring in the near future.
Tzolis went on holiday immediately after winning the league in Belgium, and so would be available to return to training with Arsenal next week as soon as the deal becomes official. Meslier signed at the start of the month and, alongside Kepa Arrizabalaga, could be involved in the match.
Then other younger players like Ethan Nwaneri, Max Dowman, Marli Salmon and Myles Lewis-Skelly could also feature. While senior players who were not involved in the World Cup, such as Cristhian Mosquera, Riccardo Calafiori, Christian Norgaard and Gabriel Jesus, are other options.
Kai Havertz, Viktor Gyokeres and Piero Hincapie are likely to return toward the end of July, followed soon by Gabriel and Gabriel Martinelli. Depending on when a friendly was held, they could have a chance but might be allowed additional recovery.
Arsenal behind-closed-doors XI – Meslier; Salmon, White, Mosquera, Calafiori; Norgaard, Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri; Dowman, Jesus, Tzolis
Article continues below