Arsenal Football Club is to host a legends match at Emirates Stadium in September, with net proceeds donated to the Arsenal Foundation.
The match will see the ‘Arsenal Legends’ face ‘Milan Glorie’ in a 90-minute exhibition game featuring former players from both clubs.
In what promises to be a truly memorable match, a host of legends from both clubs have already confirmed their intention to play* in what will be a star-studded afternoon of football. Planning to feature are players including Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Robert Pires, Freddie Ljungberg, Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi, Filippo Inzaghi and Cafu.
"To play in front of the Arsenal fans once again alongside some of my old team- mates against a team of Milan legends will be amazing"
Robert Pires
The match will be played at Emirates Stadium on Saturday, September 3 (kick-off 2pm UK time). Ticket prices start from £20 and £10 for concessions. The match date falls on an international weekend so does not clash with an Arsenal first-team fixture.
Club legend and Arsenal Foundation ambassador Pires, who plans to pull on his famous No 7 shirt once again, said: “We are all very excited to be taking part in this match. To play in front of the Arsenal fans once again alongside some of my old team- mates against a team of Milan legends will be amazing. I am also very proud we are raising funds for the great work of the Arsenal Foundation.”
Paolo Maldini, joint captain of Milan Glorie said: “It will be a great pleasure to play again with my AC Milan team-mates at Emirates Stadium - one of the best stadiums in the world. We are very excited to face such a great team of Arsenal legends and we look forward to putting on an entertaining and competitive match. We know the fans in England are very passionate and we expect a great atmosphere in London. It is a privilege to be part of this match and raise money for charity.”
Arsenal chief executive and Arsenal Foundation trustee Ivan Gazidis said: “This will be a great chance for our fans to watch many of their heroes play again and raise money for the Arsenal Foundation at the same time. The Arsenal Foundation uses the power of football and the club to make a huge difference to thousands of young people’s lives locally and across the globe, and the money raised will help us do even more.”
Franco Baresi, joint captain of Milan Glorie and AC Milan ambassador, added: “We have played many legends games for Milan Glorie, but this game against Arsenal will be extra special for us. We hope to play at a packed Emirates Stadium in front of passionate Arsenal and AC Milan supporters. To raise money for Arsenal’s charity, with a donation going to the Milan Foundation, will be a great added bonus to what will be a memorable match with so many great players.”
Robert Pires
Established in 2012, the Arsenal Foundation was founded during the club’s 125th anniversary in order to extend its good work and reach a greater number of beneficiaries around the world.
The Arsenal Foundation funds a great number of projects which use the club's name and the popularity of the game to reach disadvantaged young people. The most recent project in partnership with Save the Children saw the installation of two artificial football pitches in a camp in Iraq for internally displaced people.
There are hundreds of projects and thousands of beneficiaries, but what brings the work of the Arsenal Foundation together is the belief that young people can thrive with the right support and the knowledge that the Arsenal name can inspire them and change their lives.
Arsenal Members have an exclusive period to purchase tickets before the match goes on general sale, as follows:
• Platinum and Gold members from 10am on Monday, May 9
• Silver and Junior Gunners members from 10am on Monday, May 16
• Red members from 10am on Tuesday, May 17
• Arsenal Members will be able to purchase tickets from the ‘Friends and Family service’ from 10am on Wednesday, May 18
• General sale for this match commences from 10am on Thursday, May 19
A range of matchday hospitality packages will be available for this match. For more information, please send an email to hospitality@arsenal.co.uk or call 0345 262 0001 and select Option 2.
For full ticket details please visit www.arsenal.com/legendsmatch
*Players participating for both the ‘Arsenal Legends’ and ‘Milan Glorie’ teams are subject to personal availability on the day of the match.
Copyright 2024 The Arsenal Football Club Limited. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source.
