Yes, everybody knows Arsenal is one of the best teams in the English Premier League. They’re probably one of the best sides in Europe. Several fans were already waiting for the worse when The Gunners were announced as the MLS All-Stars opponent next Thursday.
They will be a tough team to beat, but it’s foolish to think Arsenal will play with their best team. Especially considering it’s very early in their pre-season. The English Premier League doesn’t start until the second week of August, so this is nothing more than a friendly game for them.
It only takes a look at their roster to see they could easily have a better team available.
Goalkeepers: Petr Cech, Emiliano Martinez, David Ospina
Defenders: Hector Bellerin, Krystian Bielik, Calum Chambers, Mathieu Debuchy, Gabriel, Kieran Gibbs, Rob Holding, Per Mertesacker, Nacho Monreal
Midfielders: Santi Cazorla, Mohamed Elneny, Francis Coquelin, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jeff Reine-Adelaide, Chris Willock, Jack Wilshere, Granit Xhaka, Gedion Zelalem
Forwards: Chuba Akpom, Joel Campbell, Alex Iwobi, Theo Walcott
There are some talented players like Walcott, Campbell and Cazorla – as well as new signing Xhaka – but this is not a team that should strike fear in the MLS All-Stars squad. Three of the team’s best players such as Alexis Sanchez, Olivier Giroud and Mesut Özil won’t play. The Chilean winger is rehabbing from an injury, while the latter two are still on holiday.
Making things even better for the MLS squad is the fact that they’ll have a very experienced team on the field. Clint Dempsey, David Villa, Sebastian Giovinco and Didier Drogba have plenty of international experience. And the defense should be pretty solid as well.
The MLS All-Stars won 2-1 against a much stronger Tottenham Hotspur last year. Considering the weakened Arsenal side and the improvements in this year’s ASG team, it would be a reasonable expectation to wait for an MLS win. It would be a great achievement in the league’s permanent quest for respectability in Europe.