Arsenal unveil star-laden squad for Sydney tour

Arsenal’s most expensive signing in history is poised to debut at ANZ Stadium this week after Alexandre Lacazette was named in the 25-man squad to play Sydney FC and Western Sydney.

Lacazette, who last week signed for a club-record PS46.5million ($A79 million) from Lyon, has boarded a plane bound for Sydney with his new English Premier League side and manager Arsene Wenger.

The French international striker joined the Gunners’ other summer signing, Bosnia-Herzegovina international Sead Kolasinac, and fellow France forward Olivier Giroud, who’s been linked with a move away this summer.

Other stars including Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott, Aaron Ramsey, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Pe Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny are also travelling for Thursday’s friendly with A-League champions Sydney and Saturday’s clash with the Wanderers.

The big absences are, as expected, wantaway Chile international forward Alexis Sanchez and German defender Shkodran Mustafi, who are taking a break after facing off in last week’s Confederations Cup final.

There is no place in the squad for defenders Kieran Gibbs, Mathieu Debuchy and Carl Jenkinson or striker Lucas Perez, whose agent has has said he wants to leave the club.

Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, who spent the last two seasons on loan at Roma, will also stay put amid reports of a move to Juventus.

Defenders Hector Bellerin, Calum Chambers and Rob Holding, who were involved in the under-21 European Championship, will not travel either.

Arsenal land in Sydney early on Tuesday morning for the two-match series before embarking on their China tour against Bayern Munich in Shanghai and Chelsea in Beijing.

Arsenal squad: Petr Cech (GK), Emi Martinez (GK), David Ospina (GK), Krystian Bielik, Cohen Bramall, Francis Coquelin, Mohamed Elneny, Olivier Giroud, Alex Iwobi, Sead Kolasinac, Laurent Koscielny, Alexandre Lacazette, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Donyell Malen, Per Mertesacker, Nacho Monreal, Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nketiah, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott, Danny Welbeck, Joe Willock, Granit Xhaka.