Zubimendi Benched as Arsenal Face Milan in Pre-Season Opener

Martin Zubimendi will make his Arsenal debut against AC Milan on Wednesday evening (Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Mikel Arteta has named his Arsenal team to take on AC Milan in their first pre-season friendly of the summer. A big season for the football club, the Gunners boss will be hoping his team catch the eye in their opening game at the National Stadium in Singapore .

New signing Martin Zubimendi is not in the Arsenal XI and starts on the bench for the Gunners. Instead, fellow new arrival Christian Norgaard takes his place at the base of midfield.

There is no place for Gabriel in the squad despite featuring in last weekend's behind-closed-doors game against Watford and Jurrien Timber is also missing. Riccardo Calafiori subsequently partners William Saliba at centre-back and Oleksandr Zinchenko gets the nod at left-back.

In attack, Bukayo Saka , Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli lead the line. The likes of Myles Lewis-Skelly, Zubimendi, Mikel Merino , Martin Odegaard, Leandro Trossard and Max Dowman are options from the bench in the second half as Arteta is likely to switch things about in regards to his team.

Following the match against AC Milan, the north London club play Premier League rivals Newcastle United at the National Stadium on Sunday. They then complete their Far East tour with a North London Derby clash against Tottenham Hotspur in Hong Kong next Thursday.

Here is the Arsenal team Arteta has selected to play the Rossoneri:

Confirmed Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Calafiori, Zinchenko; Norgaard, Rice, Nwaneri; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli.

Substitutes: Kepa, Setford, Rojas, Nichols, Kiwior, Salmon, Lewis-Skelly, Zubimendi, Lokonga, Copley, Merino, Dowman, Odegaard, Kabia, Nelson, Trossard, Odegaard, Harriman-Annous.