Arsenal has reduced their player number for the upcoming friendly match in Vietnam to just 22, from the initial 44.

Arsenal will have the friendly match with Vietnam’s national football team on the 17

The change is due to several player injuries and other reasons, such as the fact that Santi Cazorla, Thomas Vermaelen, Nacho Monreal, Abou Diaby, Nicklas Bendtner, Park Chu Young and Samuels Campbell are still in transfer negotiations. The team's leading half-back Thomas Vermaelen cannot join due to back injuries.

Meanwhile Cazorla and Monreal have just come back from Confederations Cup 2013 and will take the time to rest. Defenders Andre Santos and Yaya Sanogo will also not join for other reasons.

Gonzalo Higuain is not named in the list because he has not yet become an official Arsenal player, after the Royal Spanish Football Federation asked Arsenal for more money for his trade; EUR30 million.

Despite the absence of several of the best players, the team sent to Vietnam still includes many well-known names such as Wojciech Szczesny, Bacary Sagna, Jack Wilshere, Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker, Lukas Podolski, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Olivier Giroud, Mikel Arteta and Theo Walcott.

The team will comprise two goalkeepers, six defenders, 11 half-backs and five attackers.

Mikel Arteta says on the club’s website that the Arsenal squad is determined to make a positive impression on this year’s Asia Tour, adding that the matches during the tour will also be an occasion for them to train for the next tournament.

Asernal will stay in Vietnam between July 15 and 17 and will have the friendly match with Vietnam’s national football team on the 17 at My Dinh National Stadium. Arsenal will have a friendly match with the Indonesian squad at Gelora Bung Karno Staditum.