Emirates Cup Arsenal vs Benfica team news: Calum Chambers to make first appearance as Alexis Sanchez named on bench
Three of Arsenal's new signings are involved with Sanchez and Mathieu Debuchy named among the replacements
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Your support makes all the difference.Arsenal’s new £16m signing Calum Chambers will make his first appearance for the Gunners in the Emirates Cup clash against Benfica after he was named at centre-back.
Arsene Wenger named a side that was fair from full-strength, with Damian Martinez starting in goal after another new signing David Ospina was ruled out of the pre-season tournament with a thigh injury.
Arsenal’s lack of defensive options was highlighted by the fact that Nacho Monreal – a left-back by trade – will start the match alongside Chambers in the centre of defense, with Kieran Gibbs and Hector Bellerin either side of the pair.
England international Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain makes his return to the side after missing the end of the season with injury, while both Joel Campbell and Yaya Sanogo are handed chances to impress with Mathieu Flamini, Tomas Rosicky and last season’s club player of the year Aaron Ramsey making up the starting XI.
£35m signing Alexis Sanchez – who will wear ‘Alexis’ on the back of his shirt – could make his first appearance as he is named on the bench, alongside another new signing in Mathieu Debuchy. The Gunners’ World Cup contingent of Jack Wilshere, Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla are also among the substitutes, although the Germany trio of Mezut Özil, Lukas Podolski and Per Mertesacker are yet to return to the club.
Line-ups:
Arsenal: Martinez, Bellerin, Chambers, Monreal, Gibbs, Flamini, Campbell, Ramsey, Rosicky, Ox, Sanogo
Substitutes: Szczesny, Debuchy, Koscielny, Arteta, Wilshere, Giroud, Sanchez, Cazorla, Coquelin, Akpom, Miquel
Benfica: Artur, Amorim, Gaitán, Lima, Maxi Pereira, Ola John, Salvio, Eliseu, Sidnei, Talisca e César
Substitutes: Derley, Paulo Lopes, Jara, Benito, Cancelo, Bebé, André Almeida, Luís Felipe, Candeias, Lindelöf, João Teixeira
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