Will Arsenal tour the US this summer?

[jpatel1508]

Does anyone have any confirmation that Arsenal will play preseason matches in the US this Summer? If so, I'm booking my plane ticket early because it has been 6 years since I moved from London to Florida. Long time man, long time.

[442]

Sorry to say that I have not heard even a hint of a whisper that Arsenal are coming. I know of three other EPL teams that are/might be, but Arsenal isn't one of them.

[Gunners11]

Originally posted by jpatel1508
Does anyone have any confirmation that Arsenal will play preseason matches in the US this Summer? If so, I'm booking my plane ticket early because it has been 6 years since I moved from London to Florida. Long time man, long time.

Wishful thinking, I don't think there is any chance of seeing The Arsenal in the U.S. this summer.

[dbergkamp10du]

Trying to find a place in the calendar to fit a U.S. tour in this summer would be too much. With Euro 2004 ending around July 7th, I'd say even if they did come here, we wouldn't see the stars like Henry or Vieira or Pires or Campbell or Reyes or Ljungberg or any other European-based player whose country is participating, simply because they'd still be on their summer break from football. If I remember correctly, ManUre's tour started around July 23rd or somewhere around there. Probably too much to wish for this summer.

[jegerpenge]

if henry and co. neglect a summer tour for sitting on the beach getting some sun (anyone notice henry looked very pale vs. portsmouth?), relaxing after 2 solid years of playing, and therefore coming back next season fully prepared to win it all, i think i could get through the pain of not having them play in my backyard

[Rick B]

Originally posted by 442
Sorry to say that I have not heard even a hint of a whisper that Arsenal are coming. I know of three other EPL teams that are/might be, but Arsenal isn't one of them.

The rumour around Highbury IS that we are coming over for a pre-season tour in the summer. Apparantly 2 games in the New York area and a mini-tournament near Washington. The details are not announced yet. I am one of the 20 or so that go out every year to Austria for the pre-season and we have been told by the same person who usually gives us very reliable info, that the club are setting it up at the moment. Usually though, we don't find out the arrangements until mid-April. But the all the other pre-season tours have started around the 23rd of July and lasted until the 3rd or 4th of August. We then have a game in Bevern (feeder club in Belgium). After that the team play Barnet, St Albans and 2 other clubs. These all have to take place before the beggining of the season, hence why the dates of the tour are usually easy to work out. Though as it has been said elsewhere, the European internationals DO come on the tour, but they don't usually play the games. I would expect, as in the past, the training sessions would be open and there would be plenty of opportunity to meet the players. The Arsenal backroom staff are usually fantastic on pre season tours, so expect to get lots of photo op's if it does go ahead.

[HighburyGoon]

If this is true, this would be the greatest birthday present I've ever gotten. I turn 30 on August 2nd, and to be able to see Arsenal in my own backyard would be mindblowing.

[martymarts]

Shoot, I'm planning on being in England this summer!

[Gunner Phan]

As much as I would love to see Arsenal play this summer in the U.S., I kind of hope they don't come. I am planning on going over to London next fall for my first trip to Highbury to see a game. I think it would be even better if the first time I see Arsenal is at Highbury. Either way, I'm sure, I will be stoked to see the gunners.

gp

[442]

I'm sorry to be the one to kill the buzz here. But Arsenal are not coming to the U.S. this summer. They will go about their pre-season as usual. There will be three EPL teams playing in the States this summer, but Arsenal ain't one of them.

I don't mean to discredit Rick Breese but my sources here are pretty strong.

[Rick B]

Originally posted by 442
I'm sorry to be the one to kill the buzz here. But Arsenal are not coming to the U.S. this summer. They will go about their pre-season as usual. There will be three EPL teams playing in the States this summer, but Arsenal ain't one of them.

I don't mean to discredit Rick Breese but my sources here are pretty strong.

I'm not offended at all, but would be very intrigued to find out your source's are Rick? I have only said what has been said around Highbury amoungst the people who usually do the pre-season. And as 'for usual' Arsenal have NOT booked their usual training camp in Austria. that is definate!

[442]

I spoke with a member of the Arsenal Commercial Marketing dept. this morning. Also, I work with the folks at ChampionsWorld and have seen what is very close to a final schedule for the ChampionsWorld Series 2004. Arsenal isn't a part of it.

As far as their European summer plans, I have no knowledge so you may be right in that respect.

[Coach_McGuirk]

Apparently the club, themselves, would like to do a tour of the US, but "Le Boss" wants nothing to do with it as it makes no sense to him to travel across the Atlantic to play an MLS side or 2 when he can prepare his team better by staying in Europe. Wenger would only come across the Atlantic for a preseason round of friendlies in Brazil where he feels the team would be tested.

[Rick B]

Originally posted by Coach_McGuirk
. Wenger would only come across the Atlantic for a preseason round of friendlies in Brazil where he feels the team would be tested.

Can I ask where this info was from? As for going out of Europe, Wenger and the club were behind the Tour to Thailand last year, which was only cancelled because of the SARS outbreak. most major clubs now are using the Pre-season as a marketing tool rather than an actual training camp for the players (Real Madrid in Japan, Man U in the U.S.) so I think that as the Fan base of Arsenal has virtually doubled since Wenger took over, the club need to exploit that, so will be looking at somewhere to sell the name and image of the club.

[Coach_McGuirk]

Originally posted by rickbreese
Can I ask where this info was from? As for going out of Europe, Wenger and the club were behind the Tour to Thailand last year, which was only cancelled because of the SARS outbreak. most major clubs now are using the Pre-season as a marketing tool rather than an actual training camp for the players (Real Madrid in Japan, Man U in the U.S.) so I think that as the Fan base of Arsenal has virtually doubled since Wenger took over, the club need to exploit that, so will be looking at somewhere to sell the name and image of the club.

World Soccer Weekly, for what it's worth. That was the information they gave when posed the question of whether or not Arsenal was coming to the US.

[scudly]

Originally posted by 442
I spoke with a member of the Arsenal Commercial Marketing dept. this morning. Also, I work with the folks at ChampionsWorld and have seen what is very close to a final schedule for the ChampionsWorld Series 2004. Arsenal isn't a part of it.

As far as their European summer plans, I have no knowledge so you may be right in that respect. ..Ooh, so then I have to ask, who is coming over the pond to tour the states, and at what venues?

[Gunners11]

July 25th ManU-Bayern Munich in Chicago at Soldier Field.

[442]

At this time I cannot divulge the teams, but an official announcement should be coming shortly.

[SLO-Gunner]

Originally posted by 442
At this time I cannot divulge the teams, but an official announcement should be coming shortly.


such as March 18th?