Arsenal will be back in friendly action in the Dubai Super Cup on Thursday, as Lyon lie in wait for their opening encounter at the Al Maktoum Stadium.

Mikel Arteta is still working without the entirety of his World Cup contingent, as Bukayo Saka, Aaron Ramsdale, William Saliba and Gabriel Martinelli continue to battle for glory.

Matt Turner, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka will be given more time to recuperate following their exits, while Ben White left the England camp for personal reasons and has not travelled to Dubai.

In what could prove to be a devastating injury blow for Arsenal, Gabriel Jesus has been ruled out of the rest of Brazil's World Cup run with a knee injury, and his operation could rule him out for months.

On a brighter note, Emile Smith Rowe has made the trip to the Middle East as he steps up his recovery from groin surgery, but he is not expected to earn any minutes in the Dubai Super Cup and will instead aim for a return in January.

Arteta is still working with a wealth of senior players, and regular starters Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Magalhaes could both line up from the first whistle against Lyon.

Mohamed Elneny and Albert Sambi Lokonga could pair up in the midfield, as Reiss Nelson, Marquinhos and Eddie Nketiah form a youthful attack alongside captain Odegaard.

Rob Holding will most likely partner up with Gabriel in the heart of the backline, as Cedric Soares bombs down the right and Kieran Tierney starts on the left, with concern sure to be taken over the injury-plagued Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Turner and Ramsdale's absences means that there should be a start in goal for Karl Hein, while Ethan Nwaneri, Reuell Walters and Lino Sousa will hope to benefit from any second-half alterations.

Arsenal possible starting lineup: Hein; Cedric, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney; Elneny, Lokonga; Nelson, Odegaard, Marquinhos; Nketiah body check tags ::