Alexis Sanchez and Aaron Ramsey to join Arsenal squad for Scandinavia friendlies

Arsenal concluded their pre-season tour of the United States on Sunday (31 July) with a win over Chivas de Guadalajara which followed their victory over the MLS All stars earlier in the same week. The Gunners will now return to England before heading to Scandinavia for their friendlies against Viking FC and Manchester City in Norway and Sweden, respectively.

Arsene Wenger gave all the players a run out in the first three games of pre-season, but was without a number of first-team stars for the trip across the Atlantic. Aaron Ramsey, Alexis Sanchez, Laurent Koscielny, Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil were the notable casualties owing to their involvement with their national teams earlier in the summer.

The former two have returned to training at Arsenal's London Colney base while the latter three are yet to begin training for the new campaign. The French manager has confirmed the addition of Alexis and Ramsey to the squad that will travel to Scandinavia, but will not have the services of the two French internationals and their German counterpart.

The trio's lack of match fitness is likely to see them miss Arsenal's opening game of the season against Liverpool on 14 August, but could return to first-team for their visit to the King Power Stadium to face reigning champions Leicester City on 20 August.

"Not all of [the international players will be back]. But Ramsey will be involved, Sanchez will be involved," Wenger told Arsenal's official site.

"The latest players coming back will not be involved, that's Ozil, Giroud and Koscielny, they are the last ones and I don't think they will be involved on the tour on Thursday, but all the others will," the French coach added.