Arsenal F.C. is set to take on Lazio F.C. in their last preparation game for the start of Premier League’s regular season next weekend.
Arsenal F.C. pre-season results
The Gunners have been firing on all cylinders under new manager Unai Emery. Wins against Chelsea (2-1) and Paris Saint-Germain (5-1) are sure to boost the team’s confidence ahead of this matchup against Lazio. With Laurent Koscielny, Aaron Ramsey, Granit Xhaka and Lucas Torreira unavailable, Shkodran Mustafi received an opportunity to start alongside Sokratis Papastathopoulos in the defensive four, while 19-year-old Mateo Guendouzi and 18-year-old Emile Smith-Rowe accompanied Mohamed Elneny in midfield in the last fixture against Chelsea.
Youngsters Mateo Guendouzi and Emile Smith-Rowe shine
Mateo Guendouzi already looks like a steal, starting all three International Champions Cup games for Arsenal and producing some fine performances. Look out for him to dictate play once more tomorrow at 20:00 CET in Stockholm’s Friends Arena. It’s been a pretty good week for Emile Smith-Rowe as well, as the youngster penned his first professional contract with the club, in large part thanks to his on-field displays over the past month. Guendouzi and Smith-Rowe are the reasons why Emery has given up chasing another midfielder this off-season.
Ciro Immobile – an unstoppable goalscoring machine
Lazio has played only two games so far this pre-season. Both of them were 3-0 wins against lower level sides Triestina and Spal. Ciro Immobile scored in each game, showing his goalscoring prowess lives within him, regardless of what time of the year it is. He’s the one Arsenal’s defenders will need to mark tightly if they want to finish Saturday’s game on top. The 28-year-old was Serie A’s top goalscorer last season and found the net at an astonishing 41 times in all competitions.
Lazio F.C. summer transfers – ins and outs
The Sky Blues lost one of their best players when Felipe Anderson decided to leave Italy in order to join West Ham United for €38 million. Sevilla’s Joaquin Correa was acquired by Lazio to take Anderson’s place in the starting lineup. He’s a player fully capable of completing the task. Francesco Acerbi (Sassuolo), Valon Berisha (RB Salzburg), Riza Durmisi (Betis) and Milan Badelj (free transfer) are the other notable additions to Simone Inzaghi’s roster. Acerbi was bought to replace starting centre-back Stefan de Vrij, who chose to join Inter.
Arsenal F.C. vs Lazio F.C. team news
Midfield destroyer Lucas Torreira had his first Arsenal F.C. training session on Tuesday and could be immediately inserted into the starting lineup by a curious Unai Emery, who will be intrigued to see what the young Uruguayan can do. Aaron Ramsey is dealing with a minor calf injury, meaning Emery will likely err on the side of caution with the Welshman. On the other side, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is yet to join his teammates following an extended vacation but has assured his fans all the transfer rumours have no background.
“Of course I’m staying, do you not see that I’m here?”
