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Arsenal Football Newsletter
Mikel Arteta has handed starts to Ben White and Christos Tzolis in Arsenal's first official pre-season match against Girona.
The Gunners beat MK Dons in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Saturday but this will be the first opportunity for fans to watch Arteta's side in person this summer.
All the Arsenal players who made it to the final weekend of the World Cup with Spain and England are still on holiday, while William Saliba faces an "extended period" out with a back injury.
Martin Odegaard is also yet to return for pre-season after his run to the quarter-finals of the tournament with Norway.
Arteta's options were strengthened this week by Kai Havertz, Viktor Gyokeres and Piero Hincapie starting their pre-season.
They have catching up to do on the fitness front but Havertz was training individually at Bayer Leverkusen's facilities last week and goes straight into the side against Girona.
Gabriel and Gabriel Martinelli are expected to join up with the squad ahead of the match but they have been left out after only limited training.
Making an impact: Christos Tzolis registered an assist on his Arsenal debut
White starts for what will be his first minutes since suffering a knee injury that brought a premature end to last season.
Jurrien Timber is expected to need more time before he is back after minor surgery on a groin issue over the summer.
Max Dowman and Ethan Nwaneri get chances to impress, while Cristhian Mosquera is set to be given another opportunity to show he is ready to fill in for the injured Saliba at centre-back.
Tzolis complete the front three and should be sharp, having had two weeks of pre-season and a friendly match with Club Brugge before signing for Arsenal.
Confirmed team news
Arsenal XI: Arrizabalaga, White, Mosquera, Hincapie, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri, Havertz, Dowman, Tzolis, Gyokeres.
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Substitutes: Meslier, Ranson, Clarke, Ogunnaike, Salmon, Copley, Julienne, Vieira, Nelson, Agustien, Ibrahim, Kabia, O’Neill, Harriman-Annous, Jesus.
Time and date: 7pm BST on Saturday August 1, 2026
Venue: Estadi Montilivi, Girona
How to watch: Arsenal's official app or website
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