Mikel Arteta to consider four Arsenal changes for Premier League opener vs Manchester United

After five pre-season games, Arsenal's preparations for the 2025/26 season are complete.

Mikel Arteta and his squad are now focused on Sunday and the trip to Manchester United for the Premier League opener. The game against Ruben Amorim's team is perhaps the perfect opportunity to lay down a real marker ahead of the new campaign.

The Gunners have had more than a week to prepare for the clash since their 3-0 win against Athletic Club at Emirates Stadium last Saturday. Viktor Gyokeres, Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz were on the scoresheet against the La Liga side and how Arteta would love a similar scoreline on Sunday.

"I’m happy, I think having everybody involved at their best, that's what we want and then we're going to have to start with 11 players and other players are going to have to impact the game," Arteta said after the win over Athletic Club. "At the end they're going to have to earn it on that pitch with every day, with their behaviour, the quality and the connection that they show with the team and it's exactly what we need.

"We never had the demands that we have this season in terms of the competition we have to play and the amount of games already that these guys have to play. So it's very much needed, nothing different to any of the top teams in this country, nothing different."

David Raya, Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori, Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, Saka, Gyokeres and Gabriel Martinelli all started in Arsenal's final pre-season game. But will Arteta make any changes for the game against Manchester United? football.london Content Editor Sam Truelove has his say below...

Timber to White

Ben White has had an extremely encouraging pre-season and has been first choice at right-back with Timber struggling with injury. Timber was handed the start against Athletic Club last weekend as the former Ajax man did need the minutes on the pitch more than White, although the Englishman was eventually brought on.

Given White has played more football over the past handful of weeks, Arteta may opt to play the former Brighton man against Manchester United. The two players will most likely battle it out for the right-back position all season and it will be fascinating to see who comes out on top.

Calafiori to Lewis-Skelly

Myles Lewis-Skelly was one of Arsenal's best players in stages last season which is pretty remarkable considering it was the teenager's breakout campaign. While he is a midfielder by trade, Lewis-Skelly made the left-back spot his own and even scored on his England debut while playing the position under Thomas Tuchel in March.

Calafiori, on the other hand, endured a stop-start campaign and struggled with injuries. The Italian did miss pre-season fixtures against Tottenham and Villareal due to injury but returned to the starting XI last week against Athletic Club. Arteta may opt for the experience of Calafiori over the youth of Lewis-Skelly against Amorim's side but it's likely to be a battle similar to the one which will play out between White and Timber.

Martinelli to Madueke

Martinelli has started four of Arsenal's five pre-season games this season. Despite that, the Brazilian has struggled to set the world alight. He's done ok without dazzling. That may be enough for Arteta to consider a change.

Noni Madueke arrived from Chelsea and can operate on either wing. With Saka a guaranteed starter, it may well be that Madueke is unleashed from from the off down the left. "You can tell the quality that he's got every time he's on the ball, in and around the box on 1v1, the ball lands obviously to a player in our colour inside the box and that's a massive quality to have," Arteta said last weekend on Madueke. "He can play left and right, he doesn't care, so he's a big weapon for us."

Gyokeres to Havertz

Arsenal's shiny new striker scored his first goal for the club against Athletic Club. Gyokeres headed home Zubimendi's pinpoint cross to give the Gunners the lead and everyone will be hoping it is the first of many in Arsenal colours for the Swede.

Arteta is a huge fan of Havertz, though, and the Spaniard may prefer the German against Manchester United. Havertz knows the system inside out and it could allow Gyokeres to come off the bench in the second half. Again, another tough call for Arteta.

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