Arsenal vs Villarreal: Emirates Pre-Season Clash Set to Feature All Six Summer Signings

Madueke will be hoping for his first minutes in Arsenal colours tonight. Credit: Arsenal.com

Arsenal play Villareal at the Emirates Stadium tonight in their penultimate game of pre-season as they prepare for the start of the 2025/26 Premier League season next weekend.

It could be the first time we see the new signings running out at their new home, with all six of them expected to be involved. Noni Madueke joined up with his new teammates earlier this week following his extended break due to participation in Chelsea’s Club World Cup win.

Arsenal have had a mixed pre-season so far, with wins against AC Milan and Newcastle in Singapore before a loss against North London Rivals Tottenham in Hong Kong. They also beat Watford in a behind closed doors game at the Sobha Realty Training Ground before their tour of Asia.

Viktor Gyokeres, signed from Sporting Lisbon for an initial fee of around £56million, only managed to get 13 minutes on the pitch against Spurs. It is expected that he will feature more heavily tonight at the sold-out Emirates Stadium. I expect him to start.

It is likely to be the first time that Madueke, signed from rivals Chelsea for an initial £48.5million, pulls on the red and white of Arsenal, although his lack of training indicates that he will probably be on the bench.

Arsenal are expected to field a strong team as they look to shake off the Spurs result and head into their game away at Manchester United on August 17^th with all guns blazing.

Jurrien Timber and Gabriel have been spotted back in training this week after missing Arsenal’s last fixture, but there has been no sign of Ricardo Calafiori, who hobbled off against Tottenham.

Villareal are yet to win a game in pre-season so far, with draws against St. Gallen and Leeds United, who Arsenal play in their second league fixture, and a loss against Gyokeres’ former side Sporting Lisbon.