Arsenal's USA tour squad confirmed as injured defenders miss out

Following a 2-0 behind-closed-doors triumph over Leyton Orient at the weekend, the North London giants jet across the Atlantic to face a trio of English opposition.

The Gunners are in action at 3.30am UK time on Thursday morning, battling Bournemouth at Dignity Health Sports Park in California, before taking on Manchester United SoFi Stadium at 1am UK time on July 27.

Mikel Arteta's men then conclude their USA preparations with a trip to Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field, where they face Liverpool at 12.30am BST, before arriving home for final clashes with Bayer Leverkusen (August 7) and Lyon (August 11).

Most of Arteta's big-hitters will play some part in the USA tour, but Arsenal have confirmed that neither Takehiro Tomiyasu nor Kieran Tierney will be making the trip as they recover from injuries.

Tomiyasu picks up fresh knee injury

Tierney - who spent the 2023-24 campaign on loan at Real Sociedad - is still working his way back from the hamstring injury that cruelly cut his Euro 2024 campaign short, but the Scotland international is expected to leave the club this summer anyway.

Meanwhile, the injury-riddled Tomiyasu is revealed to have picked up a fresh knee injury, and the Japan international will remain at Arsenal's Sobha Realty Training Centre alongside Tierney to receive treatment.

The versatile Tomiyasu ended the 2023-24 season as Arsenal's first-choice left-back and is a fan favourite in North London, but he has failed to stay consistently fit since joining in 2021.

The 25-year-old has already missed 40 matches for club and country combined over the past three years, although he was nevertheless rewarded with a new contract until 2026 - which includes a 12-month option - back in March.

Are Arsenal's Euro 2024 and Copa America players in the tour squad?

As well as Takehiro and Tierney, Euro 2024 finalists David Raya, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Aaron Ramsdale will not return until after the tour has concluded, and the same also goes for William Saliba.

Meanwhile, Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz will not be available for the Bournemouth game, but they will join the squad from July 25 and could therefore be involved against Man United.

However, Jorginho, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Leandro Trossard and Jakub Kiwior - all of whom also represented their nations at Euro 2024 but did not progress as far - are among the initial 26 players selected.

Only a few hours after his arrival was confirmed, 18-year-old goalkeeper Tommy Setford was also included in the tour squad, alongside another new goalkeeping recruit in Lucas Nygaard.

Reiss Nelson, Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah are also on the plane despite talk of moves away this summer, while Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ayden Heaven are among the academy products selected.

Arsenal USA tour squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Karl Hein, Tommy Setford, Lucas Nygaard, Alexei Rojas

Defenders: Ben White, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jurrien Timber, Josh Nichols, Jakub Kiwior, Ayden Heaven, Omar Rekik

Midfielders: Thomas Partey, Jorginho, Michal Rosiak, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Martin Odegaard, Emile Smith Rowe, Fabio Vieira, Ethan Nwaneri, Salah-Eddine Oulad M'Hand, Jimi Gower

Forwards: Leandro Trossard, Reiss Nelson, Charles Sagoe Jr, Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah