AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli has named an interesting starting line-up for his side’s first Dubai friendly against Arsenal this afternoon.
Pioli is picking from a group of players that are either not recovering from injury or have not been representing their country at the World Cup, which results in a back four of Pierre Kalulu, Fikayo Tomori, Matteo Gabbia and Tommaso Pobega ahead of Ciprian Tatarusanu.
Sandro Tonali and Aster Vranckx have been named in the double pivot with Ismael Bennacer having only just rejoined the group, while Alexis Saelemaekers returns on the right wing and Ante Rebic on the left wing.
Yacine Adli will get another opportunity as the playmaker behind striker Divock Origi, with a youthful bench featuring the likes of Bozzolan, Simic, Bakoune, Lazetic and Jungdal from the Primavera.
Official Milan XI (4-2-3-1): Tatarusanu; Kalulu, Tomori, Gabbia, Pobega; Vranckx, Tonali; Saelemaekers, Adli, Origi; Rebic
Bench: Jungdal, Mirante, Bozzolan, Thiaw, Simic, Bakoune, Diaz, Bennacer, Krunic, Lazetic.
Official Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Hein; White, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney; Partey, Lokonga, Ødegaard; Vieira, Nelson, Nketiah.
Bench: Graczyk, Foran, Cedric, Sousa, Walters, Elneny, Cirjan, Smith, Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri, Cozier-Duberry, Sagoe Jr, Marquinhos, Butler-Oyedeji.
