Updated at 15.17
ARSENAL WILL PLAY Chelsea at the Aviva Stadium in a pre-season friendly on 1 August, it has been confirmed.
The announcement was made at a press conference in Dublin today.
The match will be part of the 2018 International Champions Cup, with the competition coming to Ireland for a third time, after Barcelona beat Celtic 3-1 at the Aviva Stadium in 2016 and Inter defeated the Scottish champions 2-0 at Thomond Park in the same year.
This year’s International Champions Cup features 18 of football’s best-known clubs, competing in 27 matches across United States, Europe and Singapore between 20 July and 12 August (more info here).
Organisers say they are confident the majority of stars from both sides will be able to feature, despite certain individuals expected to take an extended break after the World Cup.
“Absolutely, in the game before the season starts,” said former Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour, who now works with the club in an ambassadorial role.
“Arsene Wenger always worked in a different way and used to give the players four weeks off at least, but it’s a new era now for Arsenal football club with a new coach coming into the club, so it’s going to be interesting to see what he changes. I’m sure he’ll be really excited to get the team ready for the start of the season, hoping everything gets off to a great start in his Arsenal reign. This game is going to be very important for seeing who’s going to be starting in the Premier League. It’s going to be a very important season [as they] try to get back in the top four.”
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