English Premier League giants Arsenal to play two pre-season games in Australia

FOUR decades after they last visited Sydney, English Premier League giants Arsenal are set to return to the Harbour City.

The Daily Telegraph understands the Gunners will play two matches at ANZ Stadium in 2017 as part of their preseason preparation, one against Sydney FC — who should be used to coming up against Premier League opposition by now after this year hosting both Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea — and the other against the Western Sydney Wanderers.

While the exact dates of the games are yet to be finalised, they are expected to take place in either late July or early August of 2017 and the tour will form part of Arsenal’s preseason training.

Arsenal's star-studded squad is set to travel Down Under.

It might be a bit of a wait for those eager Arsenal football fans in Australia — and indeed football fans in general — but due to the number of players involved in Euro 2016, trying to fit in a tour next year would have been too challenging.

Some of the most talented players in world football play for the Gunners, including Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who has been at the helm of the club for 19 years, is famously stubborn when it comes to his meticulous pre-season regimen and previous attempts that were made to entice him to make the trip Down Under all failed. But in recent years the team has added Asia and the US to its travel itinerary and now Wenger is said to be excited at the prospect of playing in Australia too.

Arsenal is one of the most successful clubs in English football, having won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and a record 12 FA Cups. The north London team is also one of the clubs in the running to win this season’s title. With an estimated worth of $1.3 billion, Arsenal are ranked the seventh richest club in world football.

The last time Arsenal were in Sydney was way back in 1977, where they played — and lost 3-1 — to an Australian team featuring John Kosmina and Peter Wilson and coached by Jim Shoulder.

The Arsenal tour is another major coup for ANZ Stadium and the NSW Government and adds to a growing list of football royalty that has played in Sydney recently. Manchester United, Juventus, Tottenham and Chelsea have all enjoyed successful trips, while a Liverpool Legends team will also play an exhibition match against an Australian XI at the venue in January.

Arsene Wenger is set to break with traditional and bring the Gunners Down Under for pre-season.

The Arsenal tour is expected to be officially announced at a press conference tomorrow.

Olympiakos beware! Arsene Wenger reveals secret weapon

With Alexis Sanchez and Santi Cazorla out for the Arsenal’s biggest game of the season, Arsene Wenger will need to think outside the box.

But this is ridiculous!

Bored out of his mind during the pre-match press conference in Athens, he doodled what many believe to be a spaceship.

Wenger has always been known for bringing new and innovative ideas to the English game.

And leaving the planet if Arsenal fail to qualify from their Champions League group might just be his best yet.

Alexis Sanchez better than last season - Wenger

The French boss claims the former Barcelona forward's enthusiasm is 'contagious' and has hailed the Chilean's all-round contribution following his return to full fitness

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has taken the time to praise Alexis Sanchez and believes the Chile international is even better than in his first season at the club.

The 26-year-old joined Arsenal from Barcelona in July 2014 and netted 25 goals in all competitions last term.

Sanchez endured a slow start to this season but has since scored five times in his last two Premier League outings and Wenger has hailed his sublime form.

"He has had a bit of a difficult start because he came back late [from the Copa America] and you could see that," Wenger told the official Arsenal website.

"But now he is back to his level and even better than before.

"His overall game and finishing, contributing and assists is excellent. He works hard for the team and he finishes. His enthusiasm is contagious. 

"He always gives you hope that he is going to do something and he always gets defenders on the back foot, provokes and that is top class."

Alexis Sanchez to be face of Huawei in Chile

SANTIAGO, Oct. 15 Xinhua -- Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez has signed an agreement with the Chinese company Huawei to become the face of its campaigns in the South American country, local media reported on Thursday.

"I am happy to sign and hope that it will go on for a long time," said the player for English Premier League side Arsenal.

The agreement establishes that Sanchez will have a promotional role for the Chinese networking and telecommunications equipment company.

The player said that he was familiar with the P8 cellphone producer as the Chinese company is also one of Arsenal's sponsors.

"In England it's the same, Arsenal is sponsored by Huawei and there have been positive comments," said the soccer star.

"This union represents the essence of our company with the values that we share with a great sportsman like Alexis," said the Chinese company.

"As a company we look to position ourselves as world leaders by delivering quality products, services and solutions. Generating trust and dependability is also very important to the company and we see these aspects accurately depicted in the player," said Qin Hua, President of Huawei Chile.

Executives from the Chinese company handed over a Huawei device to Sanchez who took advantage of the opportunity to reveal his social media tendencies.

Stats reveal Arsenal star Mesut Ozil runs more than Alexis Sanchez

Mesut Ozil has been criticised for a lack of effort by the pundits such as Paul Scholes in recent months.

However, stats published by FIFA show that the 27-year-old is actually one of the most active footballers in the Premier League.

The EA Sports Player Performance Index states that Ozil covers a greater distance per 90 minutes played than a number of the Premier League’s biggest names.

Ozil covers more distance than Chelsea midfielders Ramires and Willian as well as Alexis Sanchez.

The Germany international joined Arsenal on a record £42.5 million transfer from Real Madrid in 2013 and Sanchez joined on a big money move from Barcelona the following season.

The Gunners are currently second in the league after beating Manchester United 3-0 in their last game at the Emirates. Arsenal are just two points off leaders Manchester City.

The North London based club take on Watford next away from home in the league.

Alexis Sanchez to be face of Huawei in Chile

Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez has signed an agreement with the Chinese company Huawei to become the face of its campaigns in the South American country, media reported on Thursday.

"I am happy to sign and hope that it will go on for a long time," said the player for English Premier League side Arsenal.

The agreement establishes that Sanchez will have a promotional role for the Chinese networking and telecommunications equipment company, reported Xinhua.

The player said that he was familiar with the P8 cellphone producer as the Chinese company is also one of Arsenal's sponsors.

"In England it's the same, Arsenal is sponsored by Huawei and there have been positive comments," said the soccer star.

"This union represents the essence of our company with the values that we share with a great sportsman like Alexis," said the Chinese company.

Alexis Sanchez gifts Arsenal shirts to entire Chile Under-17 squad ahead of youth World Cup

The winger paid a surprise visit to the young Chile squad as they get ready to compete to become world champions at their age group

Alexis Sanchez confirmed that his name will forever be written in Chilean folklore when he netted the winning penalty in the Copa America final this summer.

The Arsenal man's cheeky paneka attempt confirmed Chile's first-ever win of the tournament in their home country - after 99 years of waiting.

After his spellbinding performances in the Premier League for the Gunners, Sanchez has fast become one of world football's top stars.

But true to his roots, Sanchez made sure he took time out of his busy and star-studded schedule to surprise Chile's Under-17 stars ahead of the upcoming World Cup.

The FIFA Under-17 World Cup takes part in Chile over the next month and the hosts were all gifted Arsenal shirts from Sanchez as they gathered.

Sanchez handed out the shirts during September's international break, before posing with the whole squad wearing their new shirts.

Chile will kick-off their campaign with a clash against Croatia on Sunday, while England open the tournament by facing off against Papau New Guinea.

Sanchez, meanwhile, is sweating on his fitness ahead of Arsenal's trip to Watford this weekend.

Sanchez played for Chile despite nursing a hip injury before reporting up and is due to arrive back for Arsenal on Thursday.

Wenger admits it is far from ideal but says he is caught up in the familiar club versus country row.

Gunners boss Wenger said: “I cannot do a lot about it. He came off as you have seen against Manchester United with a hip problem, a problem with the rotator muscle and he wanted to go.

“He played in the last two games and we have to see how he comes back but it is always a tricky situation Chile are trying to qualify for the World Cup and he is an important player for them but they will use him if they can.

“He is a guy that always wants to play so I knew that was always going to be a tricky situation.

Main man: Sanchez celebrates scoring for Chile during the international break

“Let's see what happens and how he comes back. He comes back at 2pm today and I don’t think there is a lot you can do because he played. We have to see if we have to protect him in our next game or not.

“He has a bit of a difficult start to the season because he came back late and you could see that but now he is back to his level and even better than before. His overall game and finishing, contributing and assists is excellent.

“He works hard for the team and he finishes. His enthusiasm is contagious. He always gives you hope that he is going to do something and he gets defenders always on the back foot, provokes and that is top class.”