Ramsey and Gibbs set to be two of up to six Arsenal stars at Olympics
Lansbury is also a shock contender to make the final cut for Team
GB, while Miyaichi, Park and Djourou are in line to feature for Japan,
South Korea and Switzerland
EXCLUSIVE
By Wayne Veysey | Chief Correspondent
Arsenal stars Aaron Ramsey and Kieran Gibbs are expected to be named in Great Britain’s Olympic football squad, Goal.com understands.
Club colleague Henri Lansbury is also a
surprise contender to be one of the 15 players aged 23 or under selected
by manager Stuart Pearce.
David Beckham revealed on Thursday
morning that he will not be part of the summer event after being
overlooked for the three over-age places in the 18-man squad.
One of those places will go to Micah
Richards, who withdrew from Euro 2012 contention after only making the
stand-by list of Roy Hodgson's England squad travelling to Ukraine and
Poland this summer.
The Manchester City defender, though, is
desperate to prove himself at this summer's showpiece, with a source
telling Goal.com: "Micah's delighted to be included.
"He was
gutted not to be in the squad for the Euros, especially having been
nominated as Manchester City's player of the season, and he can't wait
to represent his country at the London Olympics.
"It's a unique opportunity for all of the players and Micah hopes to do Great Britain proud."
Pearce's final two over-age spots will go to Ryan Giggs and Craig Bellamy.
The
full Team GB squad is set to be revealed by the Football Association
early next week, with Monday provisionally earmarked for the
announcement.
Although the FA did not reveal who was on Pearce’s
35-man shortlist that was submitted on June 9, the players and the clubs
were informed so they could plan ahead for the new season.
The
first tranche of Arsenal players, to include Thomas Vermaelen, Abou
Diaby and Andre Santos, will report back for pre-season training on July
9.
However, the club’s London Colney training ground could be
quite sparse, given the staggered arrivals of players who competed at
Euro 2012 and those involved in the forthcoming Olympics.
It is understood that Ramsey, 21, and Gibbs,
22, are set to be named by Team GB, with Lansbury, 21, who spent the
second half of last season on loan at West Ham, also a possibility for a
team that faces group games against Senegal on 26 July, United Arab
Emirates on 29 July and Uruguay on 1 August.
Meanwhile, Goal.com has learned that Ryo Miyaichi will be named in the Japan Olympic squad, Chu-Young Park, 26, has been included as an over-age player for South Korea and Johan Djourou, 25, is in line for a Switzerland call-up.
Sixteen nations will feature in the men’s football event, including Brazil, Mexico and Spain.
Source : Goal.com
