Arsenal vs Rangers: 5 things we’d like to see in pre-season clash

2. Folarin Balogun to Start for Arsenal vs Rangers

Does it make all that much difference if Folarin Balogun gets the first 45 minutes against Rangers or the second 45 minutes? Not especially.

However seeing the half-time changes made against Hibernian, the team that came out after the break more closely resembled the side that will start against Brentford in the season opener – it was still some way off the starting lineup – and putting Flo in from the start will grant him the opportunity to make an impact from the off.

Eddie Nketiah won’t be here next season in whatever capacity after he turned down Arsenal’s contract extension. Whoever comes in to buy him would like some assurances of his ability but the occasional pre-season flirt won’t make a considerable difference to their interest.

It’s unlikely that he’ll be moved on before the USA tour. That is a shame since Arsenal need to start shifting players out for upfront fees to build a squad with the right atmosphere and to inject the money needed to strengthen elsewhere.

Balogun should be getting all the minutes that Nketiah is getting this summer but until he moves a balance has to be struck.

Nonetheless, while mostly meaningless, Flo getting a start on Saturday with experienced bodies around him would make for fun viewing. He’s officially a senior player now and seeing that rewarded would with a spot in the starting lineup at Ibrox would constitute his first start in the senior team, despite it being non-competitive.