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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.

Beckham out of Team GB 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.

	GOING FOR GOLD
6/1	Team GB are 6/1 to win gold at London 2012 with bet365

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.

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