Arsenal dream 20-man squad for Manchester United after Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke deals

In exactly five weeks, Arsenal will be kicking off their 2025/26 Premier League season away at Manchester United.

Mikel Arteta will take his side to Old Trafford with hopes of lifting the league title for the first time since the 2003/04 season. A win against Ruben Amorim's team would certainly lay down a marker, especially with the match on a Sunday and after the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City have played.

With the summer transfer window in full swing, it appears likely that the matchday squad for the game on Sunday, August 17, will be much different to the one that was named against Southampton on May 25. Neto, Kieran Tierney, Thomas Partey and Raheem Sterling have all now left the club, while further departures are expected in the coming weeks.

READ MORE: Arsenal told how to complete Viktor Gyokeres transfer amid Sporting 'tactics' by Daniel Levy

READ MORE: Arsenal set for £138m transfers as busy week for three deals predicted

There have already been incomings, of course, with Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard all signing. Noni Madueke is nearing a move from Chelseawhile talks between the Gunners and Sporting CP continue for Viktor Gyokeres.

If Andrea Berta gets the deals he wants done over the line, Arteta will likely have a decent number of options for the opener against Manchester United. As per Premier League rules, clubs are able to name a 20-man matchday squad for league matches and you would expect two goalkeepers to be named, with David Raya the No.1 and new signing Kepa his understudy.

Moving to the defence and the backline could look something like Jurrien Timber at right-back, Gabriel and William Saliba at centre-back, and Myles Lewis-Skelly at left-back. Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori are decent options on the bench and you would not argue if either of the two players start the fixture instead. There's no room for Jakub Kiwior or Oleksandr Zinchenko in the 20-man squad, and the Ukrainian could leave the club this summer.

Zubimendi, you would expect, will start as the No.6 and the Spaniard should be one of the signings of the season. With Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard either side of the former Real Sociedad man, that's a world class midfield for any team. Norgaard, Mikel Merino and Ethan Nwaneri are decent bench options and will get plenty of minutes throughout the season. Fabio Vieira and Albert Sambi Lokonga are still Arsenal players but their futures are most probably away from Emirates Stadium.

Bukayo Saka, Arsenal's talisman, will be Arteta's starting right winger but if Madueke does join then the Hale Ender can be afforded a rest every once in a while. Gyokeres is expected to lead the line if a move can be completed, while at this current stage Gabriel Martinelli is probably the starting left winger. Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz make up a really strong bench, with no room for Gabriel Jesus or Reiss Nelson, who is expected to move away once more this summer.

Dream Arsenal squad for Manchester United: Raya, Kepa; White, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Calafiori; Rice, Zubimendi, Odegaard, Norgaard, Merino, Nwaneri; Saka, Martinelli, Trossard, Madueke, Havertz, Gyokeres