Unai Emery will meet his former employers, Paris St. Germain on Saturday in the International Champions Cup.
The game will hold special memories for the Spanish tactician, who left the French outfit at the end of the 2017-18 season after winning all domestic cups; albeit without achieving tangible Champions League progress.
The game takes place at the Singapore National Stadium on Saturday with The Gunners hoping to bounce back from the defeat to Atletico Madrid last time out.
Young Arsenal midfielder, Emile Smith-Rowe will be hoping to feature after his stunning goal against Atleti. The game is also significant for the player, as he becomes 18 on the same day. We take a look at the probable line-up of the Gunners.
Goalkeeper
German goalie, Bernd Leno will be expected to start this game and stake a claim for the number 1 jersey. The former Bayer Leverkusen man, who was signed by Emery in a £21m deal, made a slightly error in a behind-closed-doors friendly and while not too much can be read into that, he could do with a good performance he to build confidence.
Defence
At right-back, Hector Bellerin is finally rediscovering his impressive 2015 with his high-energy displays while on the opposite side, Sead Kolasinac will be looking to use his raw power to torment the opponents.
Sokratis Papastathopoulos and centre-back partner Shkodran Mustafi will be looking to solve the club’s defensive woes. With Laurent Koscielny out with a long-term injury and Konstantinos Mavropanos unlikely to be entrusted to start against Man City, both men need to forge an understanding quickly.
Midfield
Most Arsenal fans were shocked with the inclusion of teenage midfielder, Emile Smith-Rowe in the last game against Atletico. He acquainted himself well, putting out tidy passes and his goal – a fine solo run before an unstoppable shot – means he should start here.
Completing the midfield duo could be Aaron Ramsey, who was given the captain’s armband in the last game; controversially perhaps, given the uncertainty surrounding the Welshman’s future.
Attack
PSG will be wary of the Arsenal front four as the quartet of Mesut Ozil, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette can cause damage to any backline in world football. Ozil should play in the number 10 role while Mkhitaryan will feature from the right. On the left, Aubameyang will be licking his lips at the prospect of utilising his pace gainst the PSG rightback. Up front, Lacazette will be hoping to shine and come good against his compatriots.
Arsenal probable line-up v PSG
Probable lineup: Leno; Bellerin, Papastathopoulos, Mustafi, Kolasinac; Ramsey, Smith-Rowe, Aubameyang, Ozil, Mkhitaryan, Lacazette.