It is completely regular to see a preseason match whereby the long list of substitutes always gets an opportunity to play. The whole point of preseason is to provide opportunity and developmental experience for players both senior and from the youth side.
Arsenal however only took Reuell Walters and Arthur Okonkwo from the youth side, with Okonkwo effectively being Arsenal's third-choice keeper last season. It appears Mikel Arteta has favoured allowing senior surplus players minutes perhaps as an exercise of using preseason as a shop window.
The likes of Nicolas Pepe, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Hector Bellerin, Pablo Mari, Bernd Leno, Reiss Nelson, Nuno Tavares and Lucas Torreira could all move on permanently or on loan. The latter looked almost certain having agreed a buy option with Fiorentina in his previous loan move.
