Eze transfer, three debuts, Gyokeres decision - Dream Arsenal XI in Villarreal friendly

Three matches down, two to go.Arsenal's 2025 pre-season is into its final stages with the Premier League on the horizon.

The EFL has returned. It is the Community Shield next weekend.The Emirates Stadium is set to host games again after a three-month hiatus for the summer.

In total, Mikel Arteta has used 25 players. There have been debuts for five new signings. Teenage superstar Max Dowman has delivered on the hype and shown why there is so much excitement around his emergence through the academy.

Whilst the on-field performances have been mixed, Arsenal look to be in a good position. They will soon be able to count on Noni Madueke and are not yet done with transfers.

It is all shaping up nicely with Villarreal next up. They come to north London on Wednesday with Athletic Club following three days later in the Emirates Cup.

Arsenal will then have a week before playing Manchester United at Old Trafford. There will still be a fortnight left of the transfer window but almost all of Arsenal's main business is done.

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They have their sights set on Eberechi Eze as reinforcement on the left. Crystal Palace's £67.5millon release clause for him expires before the new season gets under way but that is not expected to blunt Arsenal's interest.

It will likely limit Eze from playing in the first of the two friendlies left but if things were to move quickly, an appearance cannot fully be ruled out. For Arsenal, that would be a massive plus having already addressed the key areas of the squad.

The focus will soon be squarely back on the field, though, and how Arteta manages matters. He has stuck with largely the same starting team in each of his three games so far but will surely be looking to ramp up the integration and exposure for Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Zubimendi, especially.

Madueke will need to get up to speed having had an extended time off after leaving Chelsea's Club World Cup camp before the final. Gabriel Magalhaes is not yet ready to play again after injury.

It has been David Raya in goal, to no great shock. Kepa did miss a game through injury but it is not a concern. Ben White has gone in at right-back and is aiming to find regular fitness.

In the middle of defence it is Riccardo Calafiori partnering William Saliba in Gabriel's absence. Myles Lewis-Skelly has continued to be first-choice on the left.

Christian Norgaard has slotted straight into midfield with Declan Rice and Ethan Nwaneri. Martin Odegaard and Martin Zubimendi came off the bench against Milan. Odegaard was alongside Rice and Norgaard in the last game with Tottenham.

Then, the frontline is the strongest from last season.Kai Havertz has been supported by Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli. Gyokeres had a brief cameo from the bench after having a disjointed summer.

There have been some injury worries to Jurrien Timber, Calafiori, and Gabriel, but Arteta does not expect them to be serious. Ideally he would get them all more game time before the season.

How he balances the need to condition his players but also groove them in the tactics for the season waits to be seen. Against Villarreal, he may well continue to go as strong as possible in the starting XI with new signings slowly dripped in.

On the other hand, he could hand uncompetitive home debuts to Madueke, Gyokeres, and Zubimendi. With Eze taking a full part in Palace's pre-season, he could feasibly get a go as well if things were to advance.

Dream Arsenal XI vs Villarreal: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Eze.