The 2016 MLS All-Stars will take the field against one of England’s perennial heavyweights.
MLS announced on Thursday that Arsenal will serve as the opponent for the 2016 MLS All-Star Game, which is scheduled for July 28 at the San Jose Earthquakes’ Avaya Stadium. The trip stateside will be Arsenal’s second in two years after not appearing in the U.S for over 25 years prior to a 2014 friendly against the New York Red Bulls.
In addition, Arsenal will play Chivas de Guadalajara at the StubHub Center on July 31 to cap-off the team’s two-game U.S. stay.
“Preseason is a critically important time for us,” said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, “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 U.S. fans the chance to see the team play live.”
The choice of Arsenal comes just one year after the All-Star game played host to the Gunners’ North London rivals, Tottenham, who were defeated by the MLS group, 2-1.
One player that could feature for Arsenal is U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team midfielder Gedion Zelalem, who is currently on loan with Scottish side Rangers. Zelalem previously featured for the club in the matchup with the Red Bulls.
The trip to San Jose will be the All-Star Game’s first since 2001, when the league still utilized an East vs. West format. Avaya Stadium was opened prior to the 2015 season.
What do you think of the choice of Arsenal? How will the MLS All-Stars fare? Plan on attending?
Share your thoughts below.
Unfortunately, we Earthquakes season ticket holders don’t get to buy their own seats.
Sorry it looks like the link I attached is being deleted
https://www.facebook.com/Arsenal/videos/10153674990417713/
Check out the video that Arsenal have posted announcing the game. Very cute and clearly well coordinated with MLS. Great stuff
https://www.facebook.com/Arsenal/videos/10153674990417713/
Nice find, Dave. Agreed on the quality – very neat.
I was hoping for Man City just so the MLS gets another opportunity to show the world how big an ass Pep is.
No need to worry – Wenger will whine just as much as Pep when the MLS guys put in a few tough tackles on his players
The difference is his players literally break in half.
On a completely unrelated note: Emmanuel Eboue (Right back formerly with Arsenal) is now training with Sunderland. Potentially more competition for Yedlin to find the pitch if he signs.
Any excuse to remind Stan Kroenke he has a club in MLS is a good thing.
At least he built the Rapids a stadium, that’s better than Robert Kraft making the Revs play in a mostly empty Gillette Stadium like its 1996 or something.
Touche, but I think it’s important to note the city help raise the necessary funds, too. The reason this distinction is important is what just happened in St. Louis with the same owner.
I love the Gunners, but it’s easier to get to the Emirates Stadium for a regular season game than it will be from San Francisco to Avaya during Thursday night rush hour. Wish they were having it in Levi’s Stadium where they just had the Super Bowl. At least Amtrak goes there.
Yusef – you can actually take CalTrain to within a mile of Avaya and they have free shuttles from there. Or you can walk. So for about $10 you can go from SF to Santa Clara station. I’m not sure if Emirates has a HyperLoop station yet, but I’m not sure how it’d be easier than that to get to the Emirates 😉
ya i bet a 10.5 hour plane flight to a different country will be less of hassle than simple not leaving for the game at rush hour, totally
Why not Leicester?
Better chance of winning for MLS against Arsenal?
Nice 🙂
Awesome!
I might have to make a flight out to the west coast.