Having completed their long journeys across the Atlantic, Arsenal and Everton square off in the Charm City Match as part of their pre-season preparations in Baltimore on Saturday.

The Gunners have already put five past Ipswich Town and Nuremberg this summer, while the Toffees are yet to take to the field for an exhibition game.

Match preview

Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus pictured on July 8, 2022 © Reuters

It would not be an Arsenal pre-season without Mikel Arteta's side experiencing a few hearts-in-mouths moments, as German second-tier side Nuremberg took advantage of some lapses in concentration to quickly go 2-0 up last Friday.

However, two own goals, another Mohamed Elneny thunderbolt and a brace from new boy Gabriel Jesus on his debut - with the first goal coming just 90 seconds after his introduction - ultimately helped Arsenal claim an emphatic 5-3 success at the Max-Morlock-Stadion.

It may have only been a friendly game against a 2. Bundesliga side, but Jesus in particular showed early glimpses of what Arsenal fans can expect from their new number nine, and Arteta's men are now two for two in pre-season after a 5-1 thumping of Ipswich.

The degree of difficulty in Arsenal's pre-season friendlies now ramps right up, as Orlando City and Chelsea await the Gunners in the Florida Cup before the North London outfit return to base to meet Sevilla in the Emirates Cup on July 30.

There has been no more movement in the transfer market since the 5-3 success over Nuremberg, but technical director Edu is unlikely to be finished just yet, and the Brazilian will keep a watchful eye over proceedings this week as the club's new boys get acquainted with the rest of the first-team squad.

Everton manager Frank Lampard celebrates their second goal on May 19, 2022 © Reuters

Fears that Everton would be preparing for a season of Championship football ultimately did not come to fruition, as Frank Lampard's Premier League ever-presents salvaged their top-flight status by the skin of their teeth during a troubled 2021-22 campaign.

Only James Tarkowski has arrived to bolster the squad so far, and a plethora of recognisable names will no longer don the Toffees shirt, including Fabian Delph, Cenk Tosun, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Jonjoe Kenny and £60m Tottenham Hotspur new boy Richarlison.

Lampard certainly ought to welcome a few more faces to Merseyside as Everton seek to avoid being dragged into another demoralising relegation battle, but a clash with Arsenal hardly represents the easiest of opening pre-season fixtures for the Toffees.

Everton's tour of the States will also see them face off against Minnesota United next week before the long trip home, where Blackpool and Dynamo Kiev will be lying in wait, with the latter game being part of the Global Tour for Peace aiming to raise funds for those affected by the conflicts in Ukraine.

Everton memorably scraped a dramatic 2-1 win over Arsenal at Goodison Park during their winter plight last term, although the Gunners ran out convincing 5-1 victors on the final day of the Premier League season, by which point the Toffees had certainly taken their foot off the gas after securing their survival.

Arsenal pre-season form:

Team News

Marseille's William Saliba pictured in March 2022 © Reuters

Arsenal have welcomed all of their international stars back from their well-earned breaks, and a 33-man squad has been selected for the trip to the States, including the trio of Thomas Partey, Bernd Leno and Folarin Balogun despite reports stating that they would miss out.

Lucas Torreira is also with the squad after his agent revealed that a pre-contract agreement is in place with Valencia, and Arsenal fans may finally get to see a glimpse of William Saliba in an Arsenal shirt this week.

Midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga and goalkeeper Matt Turner did not cover themselves in glory for Nuremberg's two opening goals last week, and a strong Arsenal XI could see the likes of Granit Xhaka, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Aaron Ramsdale return here.

Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney will both need to be carefully managed, though, so Arteta may be reluctant to risk the pair from the first whistle in Baltimore. Youngsters such as Charlie Patino, Omari Hutchinson and Marcelo Flores have all missed out.

Everton have a couple of injury problems of their own to deal with for their first pre-season game, as Andros Townsend is still on the long road to recovery following his ACL rupture and subsequent surgery.

Captain Seamus Coleman is unlikely to be fit before the start of the Premier League season either, while midfielder Allan is a doubt for the showdown with the Gunners too.

Toffees fans should catch their first glimpse of Tarkowski in an Everton shirt this week, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin will aim to return to his old goalscoring ways in the absence of Richarlison.

Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Ramsdale; Bellerin, White, Gabriel, Cedric; Xhaka, Elneny; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Jesus

Everton possible starting lineup:
Pickford; Godfrey, Tarkowski, Keane; Patterson, Doucoure, Davies, Mykolenko; Gordon, Calvert-Lewin, Gray

SM words green background

We say: Arsenal 3-1 Everton

Arsenal's young attacking starlets have already demonstrated their affinity for finding the back of the net in pre-season, and their recent friendly exploits will serve them well against the Toffees and their lack of preparation.

Lampard's familiar-looking side should not take too long to get to grips with one another again, but a full-strength Arsenal XI should have too much for Everton here.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.