English powerhouse Arsenal have released their full roster for Saturday's friendly against the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena (5 pm ET, ESPN2), and a potential future US international is among the Gunners coming to America.
Seventeen-year-old midfielder Gedion Zelalem, the subject of considerable speculation over his international future, is among the 20 players available for the game. Zelalem, who made his competitive first team debut for Arsenal last year in the FA Cup, will be looking to make an impression on head coach Arsene Wenger ahead of the upcoming season.
Born in Germany but partially raised in the United States, Zelalem has been identified as a target by the US national team coaching staff as a potential recruit, provided he is able to obtain US citizenship. Reports in May indicated the midfielder could be working to do just that. Should he become a US citizen, he would be eligible for three national teams, as Ethiopia would also be in the running along with the US and Germany.
Besides Zelalem, several regular contributors for Arsenal last season will be on the trip to the US, including midfielders Aaron Ramsey, Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky, and defenders Kieran Gibbs and Nacho Monreal.
ARSENAL ROSTER FOR NEW YORK RED BULLS FRIENDLY:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Damien Martinez, Wojciech Szczesny
DEFENDERS (6): Hector Bellerin, Kieran Gibbs, Isaac Hayden, Carl Jenkinson, Ignasi Miquel, Nacho Monreal
MIDFIELDERS (11): Mikel Arteta, Santi Cazorla, Francis Coquelin, Abou Diaby, Mathieu Flamini, Kristoffer Olsson, Aaron Ramsey, Tomas Rosicky, Jon Toral, Jack Wilshere, Gedion Zelalem
FORWARD (1): Chuba Akpom
