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Arsenal Head To Australia For Pre-Season With Lacazette And Giroud – But Fringe Stars Miss Out

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Arsenal jetted off on their pre-season tour with a number of unsettled squad players missing the flight.

Kieran Gibbs, Mathieu Debuchy, Carl Jenkinson and Wojciech Szczesny were all absent and are expected to be moved on in a busy summer squad overhaul for the Gunners.

Gibbs with Ozil and Perez

Jack Wilshere and Brazilian defender Gabriel were also missing but they are recovering from injuries and would not have featured on the Australia trip.

David Ospina, who has been linked with a move away from north London, was on the flight.

Ospina was on the flight to Australia
Granit Xhaka got married during the summer break but his honeymoon period is over

Olivier Giroud has been hotly tipped to follow Wayne Rooney to Everton but the French striker was on the Arsenal flight to the other side of the world.

Alexandre Lacazette joined Arsenal in a £52million move from Lyon.

The France international will need to play regularly this coming season to make his side’s World Cup squad and that won’t happen with £52m new boy Alexandre Lacazette now on the scene.

Giroud has been heavily linked with a move to Everton.

Chile hero Alexis Sanchez has been given extra time off after the Confederations Cup along with German defender Shkodran Mustafi.

Elneny will get a proper chance to play with Danny Welbeck now he is fit.

Youngsters Rob Holding, Calum Chambers (England) and Hector Bellerin (Spain) have been given an extended holiday after the Euro under-21 Championship.

And in their places a handful of exciting talents have been promoted to try to impress Arsene Wenger.

Sanchez wants to reunite with Pep Guardiola at Man City.

Krystian Bielik, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Donyell Malen, Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nketiah and Joe Willock were all bumped up to first-class status.

Danny Welbeck made the cut and he is looking forward to returning to Oz and a much-deserved injury-free season in north London.

Nacho Monreal and Mohamed Elneny enjoyed posing before the flight

Welbeck told Arsenal.com: “We played against the A-League All Stars and they had a few decent players who were up for the game. They made it difficult for us.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain went for relaxed footwear on tour

“I remember getting a couple of goals that day and the fans in the stadium were great.

“They made it a very good atmosphere for us and it’s something I’m really looking forward to experiencing again when I go back, and I know I’m going to enjoy the occasion.

Welbeck would be looking to get his Arsenal career back on track

“It’s a great city. The weather was great and the people were very welcoming too.

“There’s a lot of football fans over there and it was very nice to go on Bondi Beach and have a look around Sydney, and I’ve got fond memories of it. I can’t wait to go back.”

Vibhor Dhamija
Budding statistician who uses his backpack to cover himself if he feels cold in an air conditioned room! A passionate midfielder, and a die hard Manchester United fan, Vibhor hates losing and that is what he brings to FootTheBall apart from his most enduring trait of being a quick learner.

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