Arsenal 2022/23 pre-season: Predicted XI vs Chelsea for Florida Cup

Arsenal round off their successful US tour with a clash against London rivals Chelsea in the Florida Cup on Saturday night.

The Gunners have won their opening two games of the tour, but are yet to produce a complete 90-minute display with Mikel Arteta’s heavy rotation gifting fringe first-teamers plenty of minutes. Thus far, very few have impressed.

On the contrary, Arteta’s strongest XI have starred and while it is still pre-season, the upcoming bout against the Blues will be a decent test of the club’s credentials heading into the 2022/23 season.

Arsenal’s predicted XI vs Chelsea in Florida Cup

I suspect the manager will rotate less for this bout, and here’s the starting XI he could pick.

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Aaron Ramsdale (GK) – Ramsdale failed to keep a clean sheet on his first start of pre-season, but he did make a couple of big saves. He may well split this encounter with back-up Matt Turner again.

Ben White (RB) – White is a viable solution at right-back and with Takehiro Tomiyasu missing, this is a good opportunity for Arteta to deploy the England international at full-back.

William Saliba (CB) – Saliba has looked assured thus far, but this will be his toughest test yet against the likes of Raheem Sterling and Kai Havertz. I expect him to return to the starting XI.

Gabriel (CB) – As long as it’s not Pablo Mari, I’ll be happy.

Oleksandr Zinchenko (LB) – Zinchenko could come straight into the XI with Kieran Tierney likely absent. No one wants to see the soon-to-be departing Nuno Tavares in this one. The Ukrainian rounds off a very strong backline.

Midfielders

Thomas Partey (DM) – Partey’s minutes at the base of midfield have been shared this summer, but I think he gets a long run out here. Please don’t get hurt, big man.

Martin Odegaard (CM) – Odegaard dazzled against Orlando City and is a sure bet to regain his place in the XI after only playing 45 minutes last time out.

Albert Sambi Lokonga (CM) – Arteta has several options for the final midfield spot, including Granit Xhaka. However, Sambi deserves a shot at starting in the strongest XI. The Belgian stood out amid a sub-par first-half team performance against Orlando and his future could lie in a box-to-box #8 role. It remains to be seen whether Emile Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira will be fit enough to get a run-out.

Forwards

Bukayo Saka (RW) – Saka has been used sparingly this summer, and understandably so. The England international scored against Everton and has teased his majestic talent on the tour thus far. I suspect he starts and plays 60 minutes on Saturday night.

Gabriel Jesus (ST) – How good is this guy, eh? Give me more of him.

Gabriel Martinelli (LW) – If Nuno Tavares was in the XI, we could’ve seen the star of pre-season, Eddie Nketiah, deployed as an inside forward alongside Jesus. However, Zinchenko’s likely utilisation as an inverted full-back means Arteta will want a left winger more comfortable with hugging the touchline and Martinelli’s probably the best option.