Coming to America: Arsenal will play in 2016 MLS All-Star Game
Arsenal is returning to the United States of America.
On Thursday, Major League Soccer announced that Arsenal will be the MLS All-Stars' opponent for the 2016 MLS All-Star Game, which will take place at the San Jose Earthquakes' Avaya Stadium on July 28.
And the 2016 @ATT #MLSAllStar opponent is… https://t.co/r5hdaKxc0U
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) February 11, 2016
Three days later, on July 31, Arsenal will play Chivas de Guadalajara at the LA Galaxy's StubHub Center. The set of fixtures will mark Arsenal's second trip across the Atlantic Ocean in three preseasons, as the Gunners fell 1-0 to the New York Red Bulls in the New York Cup in July 2014.
"Preseason 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," Arsene Wenger said.
"We have tremendous support across America and enjoyed our visit to New York in summer of 2014 when we played the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena. We look forward to giving our U.S. fans the chance to see the team play live."
Two of Arsenal's former players have represented the MLS All-Stars in past years. Thierry Henry made four appearances at the MLS All-Star Game during his four-and-a-half seasons with the Red Bulls, while Freddie Ljungberg featured in the event in 2009 during his first year with the Seattle Sounders.