Injury return, Gyokeres dilemma, two transfers - Arsenal's strongest matchday squad vs Man Utd

Mikel Arteta looks set to face a number of Arsenal dilemmas when it comes to naming his 20-man squad to face Manchester United in their 2025/26 Premier League season-opener.

Sporting director Andrea Berta has negotiated the arrival of six new players with every department strengthened. Kepa Arrizabalaga has arrived as back-up and competition for David Raya with Cristhian Mosquera signed from Valencia to help bolster Arsenal's defensive ranks.

Christian Norgaard and Martin Zubimendi are the Gunners' two new defensive midfielders while Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres are set to provide Arteta with more options going forward.

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With no exits sanctioned yet, a number of senior stars and key players may be forced to miss out on the group that travel to Old Trafford. Raya and Kepa will unsurprisingly be the two shot-stoppers selected with the latter likely to make his competitive debut later this month in the Carabao Cup.

Gabriel and Timber returning from injury means Arteta has eight defenders he can choose from and only four starting spots available. The aforementioned duo have only featured for just over 90 minutes in pre-season but are both in contention to start against Man United.

Given the alternatives at full-back and at centre-back, Gabriel partnering William Saliba while Ben White starts over Timber at right-back seems the most likely scenario. Myles Lewis-Skelly then completes the back four on the opposite flank, with Mosquera on the bench while Riccardo Calafiori and Jakub Kiwior are unfortunate to miss out.

To free up Declan Rice, Zubimendi's competitive debut for Arsenal is expected to be from the off after he anchored the midfield in the 3-0 friendly win over Athletic Club last weekend. Club captain Martin Odegaard also starts with Norgaard, Mikel Merino and Ethan Nwaneri - now in a central role - ready to make an impact off the bench.

Despite the fact only three spots remain with players fighting to feature, the decisions appear relatively easy for Arteta. Bukayo Saka is an undisputable starter and while Gyokeres has been acquired to be the club's first-choice centre-forward, Kai Havertz could start on Sunday afternoon.

However, the Swede has proven his sharpness and with Havertz only recently returning from a minor injury, it seems far more likely he will be named on the bench while Gyokeres leads the line.

On the left, Madueke looks set to compete with Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard. The latter has missed Arsenal's last two pre-season fixtures with an injury but he is expected to return for the trip to Manchester.

A start for the Belgium international is highly unlikely and considering the XI deployed by Arteta in the final friendly, Martinelli gets the nod. Madueke, Trossard and Havertz are all capable of having an impact as substitutes with Max Dowman, Reiss Nelson and Fabio Vieira others that will miss out entirely.

The latter duo look set to be on the move in the final few weeks of the window with moves to Fulham and Stuttgart, respectively, potentially wrapped up over the coming days.

Arsenal starting XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Zubimendi, Odegaard, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli.

Arsenal substitutes: Kepa, Timber, Mosquera, Norgaard, Merino, Nwaneri, Madueke, Havertz, Trossard.