A large parking area on the Woodside forecourt has been coned off in likely preparation for his transport and others of the Arsenal board and officialdom.

Preparations appear to be underway to cater for more than the players' coach.

The friendly match is being used by The Gunners to play first-team squad fringe players, reserves and youth against a Worthing line-up that will be full-strength for the first half at least, ahead of Rebels' FA Cup trip to Camberley two days later.

Barry Lloyd, the ex-Worthing manager now head coach for Brighton & Hove Albion, earmarked one versatile midfielder as at the forefront of a group of young players who are future England prospects.

He said: "I saw them play at the end of last season. I think Henri Lansbury is exceptional. He can play anywhere across the middle and he's been there a year longer than the others. There are some very, very talented players in this line-up."

Talking about Lancing-bred forward Rhys Murphy, who is named on the bench, Lloyd said: "He's been there two or three years, he's about 5ft 11in, good build and an excellent target man up front."

The ground will open at 6.30pm for a game which marks Arsenal's first appearance for years at Woodside. On the previous occasion there was speculation that Dennis Bergkamp might play as a test of fitness before a key league championship game. He did not, but the Arsenal XI defence that day was marshalled Matthew Upson.

He was then an England youth international but, despite adding eight full international caps, he did not make the Highbury spot his own, and then went to Birmingham City. He is now at West Ham United after a £6million transfer in January last year.

Arsenal will be playing tonight in their world-famous red and white.

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