Arsenal confirm opponents for pre-season tour of United States

Arsenal have announced their opponents for a highly-anticipated pre-season tour of the United States this summer, which sees the Gunners return to North America for the second time in as many years.

The Gunners last visited the USA ahead of the 2014/15 season, where they featured in a clash with a New York Red Bulls side that featured Arsenal legend Thierry Henry.

This time, Arsenal will play two matches across the pond, both in California, against the MLS All-Star team in San Jose before tackling Mexican side Chivas de Guadalajara in Los Angeles.

It will be the first-time Arsenal have faced the MLS All-Star team, who in recent years have faced the likes of Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, AS Roma and Bayern Munich.

With the MLS now boasting household names like Steven Gerrard, Kaka, Andrea Pirlo and David Villa, amongst many others, it will be a extremely competitive fixture to test Arsenal ahead of an exciting new campaign in 2016/2017.

Speaking to the club’s official website about the pre-season tour, boss Arsene Wenger said:

“Pre-season is a critically important time for us and we are delighted to be going to San Jose and Los Angeles to participate in the 2016 MLS All-Star game and to play Chivas.”

“We have tremendous support across America and enjoyed our visit to New York in the summer of 2014 when we played the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena. We look forward to giving our US fans the chance to see the team play live.”

The two games in the United Staes, to be played on the 28th and 31st July respectively, will be Arsenal’s only pre-season games outside of Europe this summer.