Super Eagles youngster, Alex Iwobi, was among 25 players selected for Arsenal’s preseason tour of Australia and China.
Many have suggested that the 20-year-old Nigerian may likely leave the Emirates on loan following the arrival of French forward, Alexandre Lacazette.
But it appears Arsene Wenger has other plans for the dazzling forward who struck four goals last season.
Iwobi will most likely be used in the middle of the pack after impressing occasionally in Mesut Ozil’s absence.
However, there were some notable absentee from the Gunners’ squad.
Lucas Perez, Kieran Gibbs, Mathieu Debuchy and Carl Jenkinson all failed to make the travelling party, raising question marks over their respective futures.
Jack Wilshere has been left behind but that is down to his continued recovery from a leg fracture, while Alexis Sanchez and Hector Bellerin have been given additional time off due to their international commitments over the summer.
Nevertheless, there are still doubts over Sanchez and Bellerin amid talk of exits.
Wojciech Szczesny was also omitted as he looks set for a move to Juventus, but Olivier Giroud and David Ospina did make the trip.
Arsenal face Sydney FC and Wester Sydney Wanderers next week before taking on Bayern Munich in Shanghai on July 19 and Chelsea in Beijing on July 22.
25-man preseason squad
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.
