Arsenal include Olivier Giroud and £53m signing Alexandre Lacazette as 25-man squad jets out to Australia and China for pre-season tour

  • Olivier Giroud makes the trip, halting speculation he could leave club - for now
  • Everton have been interested in the striker but long-haul tour puts talks on hold 
  • Record £53m signing Alexandre Lacazette could feature against Sydney
  • Arsenal play four games in total including Bayern Munich and Chelsea fixtures

Olivier Giroud is in Arsenal's 25-man squad for their tour of Australia and China – suggesting no move away from the Gunners is imminent.

The 30–year-old striker, a target for Everton and Marseille, boarded the flight to Sydney with the Gunners' travelling party on Sunday.

New £52m man Alexandre Lacazette was also on the plane, along with Mesut Ozil, who had been linked with a move away from Arsene Wenger's side. 


Arsenal's 25-man squad line-up for pictures before they jet off on tour to Australia and China

Arsenal's 25-man squad line-up for pictures before they jet off on tour to Australia and China

Everton target Olivier Giroud is in good spirits as he prepares for the long-haul trip to Australia

Everton target Olivier Giroud is in good spirits as he prepares for the long-haul trip to Australia

Record £53m signing Alexandre Lacazette and Petr Cech are included in the 25-man squad   

Record £53m signing Alexandre Lacazette and Petr Cech are included in the 25-man squad   

Arsenal captain Per Mertesacker sits in the flight deck of the Airbus ahead of the long flight

Arsenal captain Per Mertesacker sits in the flight deck of the Airbus ahead of the long flight

Giroud's future is in doubt after Lacazette's arrival but his inclusion is a strong indication that the Frenchman wishes to stay and fight for his place.

Alexis Sanchez, who has been linked with a switch to Premier League rivals Manchester City, and Shkodran Mustafi have both been given extended leave following their participation in the Confederations Cup while Lucas Perez has stayed behind to continue negotiations with Deportivo La Coruna.

Arsenal's other new arrival, Sead Kolasinac, boarded the Emirates flight via Dubai, but there was no place in the group for Mathieu Debuchy, Kieran Gibbs and Carl Jenkinson, which signals their likely departures. 

Danny Welbeck posted this picture of him and Mohamed Elneny on the plane to Australia

Danny Welbeck posted this picture of him and Mohamed Elneny on the plane to Australia

Arsenal's Nacho Monreal sports a Gunners' baseball cap as he prepares to jet out to Australia

Arsenal's Nacho Monreal sports a Gunners' baseball cap as he prepares to jet out to Australia

It's never too late for selfies as Theo Walcott and team-mates pose for a snap before jetting off

It's never too late for selfies as Theo Walcott and team-mates pose for a snap before jetting off

ARSENAL'S TOURING SQUAD IN FULL 

Petr Cech, Emi Martinez, David Ospina, 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. 

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Hector Bellerin, Calum Chambers and Rob Holding have also been given extra time off following the European Under-21 Championship while injury victims Jack Wilshere and Gabriel have both stayed behind as they continue their recoveries.

The party includes a number of youngsters with Wenger keen to give them a taste of life as a first-teamer.

Joe Willock, Krystian Bielik, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Eddie Nketiah, Reiss Nelson and Donyell Malen have all made the 12,000-mile trip.

Arsenal arrive Down Under on Tuesday morning, Sydney time, for a press conference. They will go on to play Sydney FC at ANZ Stadium on Thursday before taking on Western Sydney Wanderers at the same venue on Saturday.

The group will then depart on Sunday for China, where they will take on Bayern Munich and Chelsea. 

Walcott has been linked with West Ham but the Arsenal winger is happy to be jetting to Oz 

Walcott has been linked with West Ham but the Arsenal winger is happy to be jetting to Oz 

Walcott appeared to be excited to be sitting next to his friend Aaron Ramsey on the long trip

Walcott appeared to be excited to be sitting next to his friend Aaron Ramsey on the long trip

Per Mertesacker - club captain of the 2017 FA Cup winners - boards the plane

Per Mertesacker - club captain of the 2017 FA Cup winners - boards the plane

Giroud takes a good look at Laurent Koscielny's new Arsenal cap before they jet off to Australia

Giroud takes a good look at Laurent Koscielny's new Arsenal cap before they jet off to Australia

Arsenal pre-season fixtures 

July 13: Sydney (ANZ Stadium, Sydney) 11am

July 15: Western Sydney Wanderers (ANZ Stadium, Sydney) 11am

July 19: Bayern Munich (Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai) 12.20pm

July 22: Chelsea (Bird's Nest Stadium, Beijing) 12.40pm

July 29: Benfica (Emirates Stadium) 4.20pm

July 30: Sevilla (Emirates Stadium) 4.20pm

August 6: Chelsea (Wembley Stadium - Community Shield) 2pm 

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Welbeck is welcomed on board by a member of the Emirates flight crew on Sunday night

Welbeck is welcomed on board by a member of the Emirates flight crew on Sunday night

Nacho Monreal seems fascinated by the Puma cap handed to him ahead of the tour

Nacho Monreal seems fascinated by the Puma cap handed to him ahead of the tour

France international Koscielny digs around in the backpack provided by kit makers Puma

France international Koscielny digs around in the backpack provided by kit makers Puma

Koscielny shows off some aviator sunglasses as Giroud looks on at Stansted Airport

Koscielny shows off some aviator sunglasses as Giroud looks on at Stansted Airport

Welbeck smiles at Elneny as the duo prepare to take flight ahead of Arsenal's pre-season tour

Welbeck smiles at Elneny as the duo prepare to take flight ahead of Arsenal's pre-season tour