Arsenal expected to add two more friendlies to summer schedule

Moses AdamsJune 2, 2024Last Updated: June 2, 2024

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Arsenal will embark upon their pre-season plans this summer but with the obstacles of two major tournaments ongoing. Both the Copa America and European Championships mean that players will be late back to rejoining Mikel Arteta at the Sobha Realty Training Centre as they are allowed an extended break to recover from the season and summer of football.

The club have spent the last couple of seasons at the Adidas training centre in Germany ahead of their US tours. Gabriel Jesus debuted there in 2022, scoring within minutes to kick off his Arsenal career in the perfect way possible and Kai Havertz followed the same pathway the next year.

However, with the Euros taking place this summer in Germany, football.london have been told they will not be making the trip this year. That said, Arteta and the club have appreciated the success of the trip in previous years and have the venue in mind again for summers when international tournaments are not on.

Players will therefore return to train in North London before the side heads off to America on July 21. There they are due to play Manchester United on July 28 in Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium before flying to Philadelphia to play Liverpool at the Lincoln Financial Field on August 1.

football.london understands there are plans for a third game to be played, potentially against another Premier League side although details are yet to be determined. Players taking part in the Euros and Copa America will join up with the squad with those taking part in the latter having the option to take their breaks in the States to reduce travel.

Man United’s FA Cup victory meant that, unlike last season when the Gunners finished second, they will not be playing in this year’s Community Shield. Due to this, football.london understands that it is very likely a summer friendly match will take place at the Emirates Stadium with the potential for the Emirates Cup to return.

Information on the opponents is yet to be determined but this provides Arteta one of the final chances to get his team ready for the start of the season. There is also potential for behind-closed-door games to be played which are favoured by the Spaniard.

The season starts later this year on August 17. Arsenal will learn their opening day opponents when the fixtures are released on Tuesday 18 June.