Arsenal will take on the MLS All-Stars on Thursday, seven years after their last meeting with the American outfit.
In 2016, a team featuring the likes of Andrea Pirlo, David Villa, Kaka and Didier Drogba came undone to Chuba Akpom’s 87th-minute winner. This time around, the superstar names are at a premium, but Major League Soccer is far more competitive and no longer relies on the allure of post-peak icons.
It’s always an entertaining affair and Arsenal will be desperate to pick up their first win of the summer, having surprisingly been held to a 1-1 draw with Nurnberg last time out.
Here’s all you need to know about this one.
*Game will be played on Wednesday 19 July in the United States
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Country |
TV Channel/Live Stream |
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United Kingdom |
Apple TV (MLS Pass) |
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United States |
Apple TV (MLS Pass) |
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Canada |
Apple TV (MLS Pass) |
Any fans hoping to catch a glimpse of MLS’ newest star in action will be disappointed as Lionel Messi signed his contract well after the deadline for Rooney’s roster to be confirmed.
European fans will recognise names like Christian Benteke and Riqui Puig, while New England Revolution goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic has been a regular in the gossip column because of interest from Manchester United.
(4-3-3): Burki; Mosquera, Miazga, Robinson, Barreal; Morris, Almada, Mukhtar; Espinoza, Benteke, Bouanga.
Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber are both part of the travelling squad and will likely see their first minutes in the…divisive new away kit.
Reiss Nelson, Martin Odegaard and Leandro Trossard all picked up injuries earlier this summer and might not be risked for this one as a result. Oleksandr Zinchenko remains sidelined.
(4-3-3): Ramsdale; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Tierney; Jorginho, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli.
Major League Soccer takes a lot of pride in its All-Star games, and so Rooney and his squad will be out for revenge against Arsenal after their loss back in 2016.
For Arsenal, this is still another pre-season friendly and Mikel Arteta will care more about his new faces learning the ropes than he will about a victory which could easily come naturally, such is the quality that will be on show in that new away shirt.
The introduction of Folarin Balogun should provide an extra highlight in an entertaining game which could easily end in the same fashion as the last encounter.
