Arsenal face the MLS All-Stars in the opening friendly of the Gunners’ pre-season tour of the US. So, here is everything you need to know about the game in Washington DC.

Mikel Arteta took his players Stateside last Sunday as the Emirates Stadium outfit prepare for their return to the Champions League. The Spaniard led Arsenal back to UEFA’s premier club competition for the first time since 2016/17 after ending the Premier League term in second.

A pre-season tour of the US helped launch Arsenal into a Premier League title-challenge in 2022/23. They beat Everton, Orlando City and Chelsea whilst over the pond. While this year sees the north Londoners take on the MLS All-Stars, Manchester United and FC Barcelona.

Arsenal have already tasted some success Stateside this summer, as well. USA international Auston Trusty won the Gunners the MLS All-Stars Skills Challenge at Audi Field ahead of the friendly. Now, here is all you need to know about Arsenal’s friendly with the MLS All-Stars…

When is MLS All-Stars vs Arsenal?

Arsenal face the MLS All-Stars on Wednesday, July 19 at 20:30 local time in Washington DC. So, the pre-season friendly kicks off at 01:30 on Thursday, July 20 for those back in England.

READ MORE: Everything we know about Arsenal’s 2023 pre-season tour

How to watch Arsenal vs the MLS All-Stars

Fans can only watch live coverage of Arsenal’s pre-season friendly with the MLS All-Stars via Apple TV. But the Gunners will also share a highlights package via their official club website.

Live stream of Arsenal vs the MLS All-Stars

Apple TV offers a worldwide MLS Season Pass via the Apple TV app, which includes all MLS and Leagues Cup games. It also features hundreds of MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT games. An MLS Season Pass subscription costs £14.99 a month during the season or £99 a season.

READ MORE: All Arsenal confirmed signings and transfers out in 2023/24

However, Apple TV also broadcasts several fixtures for free – including Arsenal’s pre-season friendly with the MLS All-Stars. Coverage of the summer contest will begin one hour before the game. So, coverage of Arsenal and the MLS All-Stars’ friendly starts at 00:30 in England.

Arsenal team news

Arteta will be without 12 of his Arsenal players when the Gunners face the MLS All-Stars in a pre-season friendly. According to football.london, Thomas Partey will not link up with those in America until next week as the Ghana midfielder is continuing his recovery from an injury.

Also, Emile Smith Rowe did not fly out on Sunday after helping England to win the European Under-21 Championships. He is now enjoying a delayed holiday after the 22-year-old played in all six of the Young Lions’ games. The midfielder also recorded two goals and one assist.

Injuries also stopped Nicolas Pepe and Albert Sambi Lokonga from leaving north London last weekend. Cedric Soares and Nuno Tavares are likewise still at London Colney, with neither of the quartet due to head over to America to join in with the rest of Arsenal’s pre-season tour.

Martin Odegaard, on the other hand, is in America but will sit out the MLS All-Stars tie as the Arsenal captain recovers from his calf injury. Injuries will also sideline Leandro Trossard, Rob Holding, Marquinhos and Mohamed Elneny. Reiss Nelson also did not fly over to the States.

Gabriel Martinelli and Takehiro Tomiyasu both sat out Arsenal’s pre-season friendly away to FC Nurnberg due to injuries, as well. But Arteta did name them, plus Oleksandr Zinchenko, in his 29-man travelling squad. So, they could play in some capacity against the MLS All-Stars.

Prediction: Arsenal (3) vs (1) MLS All-Stars

The 2023 MLS All-Stars tie marks the second time that Arsenal have played in the highlight pre-season friendly. Joel Campbell and Chuba Akpom both hit the back of the net to secure the Gunners a 2-1 win in the 2016 edition. Didier Drogba scored the MLS All-Stars’ only hit.

Arsenal are also the last English team to feature in the MLS All-Stars match. The select XI of MLS players beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 in the 2015 edition. The MLS All-Stars also boast a 9-7 record through the previous 16 editions having won each of the past two such matches.

But Arsenal Insider predicts the MLS All-Stars’ winning run to come to an end when Arteta’s team lines up in Washington DC. We back the Gunners to take a 3-1 win for their first win of the summer so far with Arteta able to field a mostly full-strength XI for the Audi Field clash.

One of the main challenges the friendly could throw up is Aaron Ramsdale’s search for the Gunners’ first clean sheet. He failed to keep Nurnberg from scoring as Kanji Okunuki’s goal secured the Bundesliga 2 side a draw. While Ismael Kone scored for Watford in a 1-1 draw.

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