Who's in, who's out and who's a doubt for the Barclays Asia Trophy 2015
The stage is set for Arsenal, Stoke City, Everton and a Singapore Select XI to do battle at the National Stadium for the Barclays Asia Trophy 2015 on July 15 and July 18.
The Gunners completed the full roster of players who will compete in the pre-season tournament by announcing their squad list on Thursday (July 9).
Here's a handy little list of the players fans can expect to see in the coming days.
ARSENAL
PHOTO: AFP
First, the bad news: the north Londoners will be without the attacking trio of Alexis Sanchez, Danny Welbeck and Tomas Rosicky.
Along with goalkeeper David Ospina, livewire Sanchez has been given a break after helping Chile to their first Copa America title in 99 years.
Former Manchester United striker Welbeck misses out as he looks to complete his rehabilitation from a knee injury sustained last season while Czech midfield maestro Rosicky will not be risked after picking up a minor injury while on international duty against Iceland.
But the good news is that Singaporeans will the first to watch new signing Petr Cech in action as an Arsenal player following his £10 million ($21.2m) transfer from Chelsea.
The Czech goalkeeper will be among a host of big names that Arsene Wenger will bring to town, including German playmaker Mesut Oezil, Theo Walcott, Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere.
Also in the 27-man squad is highly-rated youngster Chris Willock, who Singaporeans will remember as a fresh-faced 15-year-old from the 2013 edition of the Lion City Cup.
FULL SQUAD LIST: Chuba Akpom, Mikel Arteta, Hector Bellerin, Santi Cazorla, Petr Cech, Calum Chambers, Francis Coquelin, Dan Crowley, Mathieu Debuchy, Mathieu Flamini, Gabriel, Kieran Gibbs, Olivier Giroud, Alex Iwobi, Laurent Koscielny, Emiliano Martinez, Per Mertesacker, Nacho Monreal, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mesut Oezil, Aaron Ramsey, Jeff Reine-Adelaide, Wojciech Szczesny, Theo Walcott, Chris Willock, Jack Wilshere, Gedion Zelalem
EVERTON
PHOTO: FACEBOOK / EVERTON FOOTBALL CLUB
New signings Tom Cleverley (above, right) and Gerard Deulofeu have both been included in Roberto Martinez's 24-man squad.
Spanish winger Deulofeu was signed on a permanent basis following his loan spell at Goodison Park last season, while Cleverley was reunited with his former manager at Wigan following his release from Manchester United.
Martinez has also included several youngsters like Luke Garbutt and Conor McAleny alongside regulars like Tim Howard, Seamus Coleman, Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku.
But England left-back Leighton Baines, Irish midfielder Darron Gibson and Costa Rican international Bryan Oviedo have been ruled out due to injury.
(My cheeky suggestion for Baines' omission is that his pride was wounded after his horrible performance in a chapteh challenge in the build-up to the tournament...)
FULL SQUAD LIST: Joel Robles, Tim Howard, Jindrich Stanek, Tony Hibbert, Phil Jagielka, Seamus Coleman, John Stones, Tyias Browning, Luke Garbutt, Brendan Galloway, Aiden McGeady, James McCarthy, Muhamed Besic, Gareth Barry, Ross Barkley, Leon Osman,Steven Pienaar, Tom Cleverley, Arouna Kone, Romelu Lukaku, Kevin Mirallas, Steven Naismith, Conor McAleny, Gerard Deulofeu
SINGAPORE SELECT XI
PHOTO: REUTERS
After earning rave reviews from Blue Samurai fans for his inspirational performance in goal against Japan while on international duty, Izwan Mahbud will now have the opportunity to catch the eye of Arsene Wenger in the Singapore Select XI's opening match against Arsenal.
Despite the daunting task, the LionsXII goalkeeper has been picked by coach V Sundramoorthy along with club team-mate Safuwan Baharudin, who will also be looking to impress and earn another spell abroad following his successful stint with Melbourne City.
A contingent of nine players from the S.League will feature in Sundram's 23-man roster including Tampines Rovers' Shaiful Esah and Rodrigo Tosi as well as Warriors FC pair Nicholas Velez and Fazrul Nawaz.Home United duo Yasir Hanapi and Sirina Camara have also been selected.
Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) II's Singapore internationals Shahril Ishak and Baihakki Khaizan are set to play although JDT first-teamer Hariss Harun misses out.
FULL SQUAD LIST: Izwan Mahbud, Nazrul Nazari, Madhu Mohana, Safuwan Baharudin, Hafiz Abu Sujad, Shakir Hamzah, Izzdin Shafiq, Zulfahmi Arifin, Gabriel Quak, Faris Ramli, Khairul Amri, Shahdan Sulaiman (LionsXII), Baihakki Khaizan, Shahril Ishak (JDT II), Zaiful Nizam (Balestier Khalsa), Ismadi Mukhtar, Shaiful Esah, Rodrigo Tosi (Tampines Rovers), Kento Fukuda (Geylang International), Nicholas Velez, Fazrul Nawaz (Warriors FC), Yasir Hanapi, Sirina Camara (Home United)
STOKE CITY
PHOTO: ACTION IMAGES / LEE SMITH
Potters fans must have been stoked to learn that former Barcelona forward Bojan Krkic has joined Mark Hughes' BAT 2015 contingent.
The ex-Roma attacker was initially not on Stoke's squad list after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury last season but has linked up with his team-mates in time for the flight to the Republic.
Also on the flight to Singapore is new recruit Joselu, the 25-year-old former Spanish Under-21 international who was signed from Bundesliga side Hannover 96.
While several familiar names like maverick attacker Marko Anautovic, captain Ryan Shawcross and striker Peter Crouch have been confirmed, it looks like midfielder Steven N'Zonzi - the club's Player of the Year last season - will not feature after Hughes confirmed that the Frenchman is closing on a move to Spain's reigning Europa League champions Sevilla.
And despite making the flight to Singapore as part of Stoke's 23-man squad, Asmir Begovic's future is still in doubt with the goalkeeper a transfer target for Chelsea.
FULL SQUAD LIST: Asmir Begovic, Phil Bardsley, Marc Muniesa, Glenn Whelan, Stephen Ireland, Peter Odemwingie, Marko Arnautovic, Joselu, Marc Wilson, Charlie Adam, Ryan Shawcross, Mame Biram Diouf, Jonathan Walters, Geoff Cameron, Steven Sidwell, Jack Butland, Dionatan Teixeira, Peter Crouch, Bojan Krkic, Philipp Wollscheid, Jakob, Haugaard, Oliver Shenton, Daniel Bachmann
WATCH THE GUNNERS IN ACTION!
Emirates Airline, an Official Partner of Arsenal, is offering 16 pairs of tickets to watch the team play at the Barclays Asia Trophy.
Answer the question below and you could win a pair of Category 1 tickets for the matches at the National Stadium on July 15 and 18.
Question:
Emirates Airlines flies to more than 140 destinations. True or False?
THE CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.
Thank you for participating!
Winners will be randomly picked and will be contacted to collect their tickets.
*Terms and conditions apply. Tickets are allocated at the discretion of The New Paper and match-day ticket dates are non-transferable.
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