Arsenal vs. Lyon: Team News, Preview, Live Stream, TV Info

Arsenal kick off their Emirates Cup campaign with a match against Olympique Lyon. The French outfit made significant strides in Ligue 1 last season, booking a return to the Champions League with an exciting young team. They’re set to provide a tough test for the Gunners as Arsene Wenger ramps up his pre-season preparations.

The Emirates Cup is one of three trophies available to Arsenal in pre-season. They’ve already lifted the Asia Trophy after defeating Everton in the final and will have designs on completing a friendly treble by winning the Emirates Cup and Community Shield too.

Arsene Wenger is a huge fan of the competition, telling Arsenal's official website:

"

Personally I love the Emirates Cup because it’s competitive without having too much pressure on the games.

It is vital for preparation. The international players came back quite late on July 11, so when you think that they have less than four weeks to prepare for the first Premier League game, it’s very short.

"

For Lyon, this encounter is about fine-tuning ahead of the French Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain next weekend. Much like the forthcoming Wembley encounter between Arsenal and Chelsea, that match will be seen as an opportunity to lay down a marker ahead of the domestic title race.

Date: Saturday July 25

Time: 4.20 p.m. BST

Location: Emirates Stadium, London

Television coverage: BTSport (UK)

Streaming: BTSport app (UK); ESPN3.com (U.S.)

Pre-season Schedule So Far

Arsenal

W (4-0) vs. Singapore Select XI

W (3-1) vs. Everton

Jean Catuffe/Getty Images

Lyon

L (1-0) vs. Sion

L (0-2) vs. PSV

W (2-1) vs. Milan

Team News

The intense schedule of the Emirates Cup means Arsene Wenger is likely to name two completely different XIs against Lyon and Wolfsburg. In the past that has meant one strong team with one significantly weaker. However, the depth all across Arsenal’s squad means Wenger can afford to mix and match without significantly damaging the quality of the XI on show.

All eyes will be on Wenger’s selection at goalkeeper—this could be the moment he chooses to give Petr Cech his first appearance at the Emirates Stadium as an Arsenal player. It will also be intriguing to see which of his strikers he chooses to lead the line. Ostensibly the choice appears to be between the power of Olivier Giroud and the pace of Theo Walcott, although the renewed availability of Danny Welbeck after a swollen knee could give Wenger a third option.

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

The sensible thing to do would be to retain the team’s core partnerships, allowing the likes of Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny, or Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin, to further develop their budding chemistry.

Predicted Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1): Petr Cech; Mathieu Debuchy, Per Mertesacker (c), Laurent Koscielny, Kieran Gibbs; Francis Coquelin, Santi Cazorla; Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain; Danny Welbeck

Lyon face Villarreal on the second day of the tournament, so they are likely to field something close to their strongest possible lineup on the opening day against the hosts.

Playmaker Clement Grenier started on the bench in the most recent friendly against Milan, but he is likely to be reintroduced to face the Gunners. There could also be a start for new boy Claudio Beauvue—a summer signing from Guingamp.

Predicted Lyon XI (4-3-3): Anthony Lopes; Christophe Jallet, Henri Bedimo, Lindsay Rose, Samuel Umtiti; Maxime Gonalons, Clement Grenier, Jordan Ferri; Nabil Fekir, Claudio Beauvue, Alexandre Lacazette

Players to watch

Arsenal: Olivier Giroud

Joseph Nair/Associated Press

In Arsenal’s last pre-season outing against Everton, Giroud was arguably the most disappointing of the outfield players on show. With question marks over whether he is the right man to fire Arsenal back to the Premier League’s summit, this would be a great time for him to show his best form.

There are around five weeks until the transfer window slams shut, and Giroud has that period of time to convince Wenger there is no need to invest in a superior striker. That battle begins in earnest during the Emirates Cup.

Lyon: Alexandre Lacazette

It’s an uncomfortable truth that Giroud is likely to come up against one of the players linked with replacing him.

Alexandre Lacazette was the top goalscorer in Ligue 1 last season and has been linked by Daniel Prescott of the Daily Mail with interest from north London. It’s easy to see why: The Frenchman is quick, powerful and a cool finisher. A storming performance in this friendly contest could force Wenger into action.

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout 2015/16. Follow him on Twitter here.