I don’t know if we should call it a friendly but its definitely a good test for the players. In this friendly derby I want to see the players putting in a fight, playing better and making less mistakes. We just need to pray we don’t pick up another injury set back on our important players. A lot of fans will be paying attention to the first half selection as it will signal what Arteta might go with in our Premier League opener against Brentford on Friday.

Potential lineup:

GK:
Bernd Leno completed 90 minutes last week against Chelsea. The club is still working on signing his backup. I dont see Okonkwo or Runarsson starting ahead of him. It will be god for him to complete another 90 minutes.

DF:
We look much better at right back with Chambers and with no new addition I see Arteta continueing to play him there ahead of Cedric and Bellerin who both have uncertain futures at Arsenal. In the second half one of them might come on to put minutes in their legs and give Calum a much needed rest.

Ben White will make his first Northern Derby debut as well as his first start for Arsenal next to Pablo Mari. Holding has been reliable last season but he has started pre-season in bad form. He might come on in the second half to warm up his engine. But until then Ben White will play ahead of him.

The left back position is well covered but Arteta will go with Tierney who is likely preferred to start the game against Brentford on Friday. Nuno Tavares will definitely get a run out in the second half. Kolasinac will not feature as the club is likely to terminate his contract.

MF:
Partey will be out for 3 weeks and it only make sense to start Sambi Lokonga in the engine next to Granit Xhaka. They need to get familiar with one another as quick as possible. Lokonga is ready to complete 90 minutes but Xhaka just returned and he might be replaced by Elneny in the second half.

FW:
Pepe has been brilliant on the right wing, he also completed 90 minutes last week and might be replaced in the second half by Bukayo Saka who recently just returned to training. On the left wing we might see Aubameyang play there again but theres also shot for Balogun who looked very brilliant in that position against Rangers 2 weeks ago. Saka can also immediately slot in there depending on his fitness levels. Lacazette is expected to play through the middle but it will depend on who plays on the left.