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– Premier League leaders Arsenal will provide the opposition for the Major League Soccer (MLS) All-Stars who will be managed by D.C. United head coach Wayne Rooney at the midseason showcase in July, MLS said on Tuesday.
– It will mark the second appearance in the All-Star game for Arsenal, who could arrive at Washington, D.C.’s Audi Field for the July 19 match as newly crowned Premier League champions.
– The north London club tightened their grip at the top of the table after they moved eight points clear of second-placed Manchester City with a 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday.
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– “It’s great that we’re playing against the MLS All-Stars in Washington D.C. in July,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said in a statement. “Our U.S. tour last summer was very good preparation for the season.
– “The match against the MLS All-Stars will be a good test ahead of the 2023/24 season.”
The Arsenal are heading Stateside 🇺🇸
As part of our upcoming pre-season tour of the US, we’re delighted to announce we’ll be facing off against the @MLS All-Stars in Washington D.C. on July 19 👇
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 21, 2023
– The match will be Rooney’s third All-Star game. The former England forward was in the MLS squad that faced Atletico Madrid in 2019 and he played against the MLS best in 2011 as a member of Manchester United.
– “I’ve had a front row seat to watch the growth and development of Major League Soccer, first as a player and now as a manager,” Rooney said.
– “The opportunity to lead the best our league has to offer against a top Premier League club like Arsenal will be a highlight for me personally and an unforgettable experience for our passionate fanbase here in D.C..”
