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