Arsenal's club-record signing Declan Rice could make his debut for the Gunners when they meet an MLS All-Star XI at Audi Field on Wednesday evening.
The ex-West Ham United captain was unveiled as Arsenal's £105m man over the weekend, and he has flown to the USA with his new teammates alongside another recent arrival in Jurrien Timber.
Furthermore, all of Takehiro Tomiyasu, Rob Holding, Fabio Vieira, Gabriel Martinelli, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Mohamed Elneny have also touched down in the USA as they work their way back from injuries, as have Martin Odegaard and Leandro Trossard, who were casualties of the Gunners' recent training camp in Germany.
The Gunners also expect Thomas Partey and Emile Smith Rowe to link up with the squad at some point this week, but all of Nicolas Pepe, Nuno Tavares, Reiss Nelson, Cedric Soares, Albert Sambi Lokonga and USA goalkeeper Matt Turner are absent for one reason or another.
Aaron Ramsdale's spot in goal is not up for debate in the absence of Turner - who was the 2021 MLS All-Star MVP - and the same can be said for William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes at the back.
Timber could very well be deployed on the right-hand side for his maiden Gunners appearance, as Kieran Tierney occupies the left flank while Mikel Arteta exercises caution with Zinchenko.
The number six role is surely calling Rice's name for the Englishman's friendly debut, while Jorginho and Kai Havertz may join the 24-year-old if Odegaard is not risked from the off.
The Audi Field faithful will no doubt hope to get a glimpse of USA international Folarin Balogun, but Gabriel Jesus is a more likely candidate to lead the line from the first whistle alongside Bukayo Saka and Martinelli.
Arsenal possible starting lineup: Ramsdale; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Tierney; Jorginho, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
Ben Knapton
