Arsenal Football Club is delighted to confirm that the first team will compete in this summer’s Saitama City Cup, as the finale to the pre-season tour of Asia.
The match in Japan against Urawa Reds will be played on Friday, July 26 (kick-off time 7.30pm local time) at Saitama Stadium and completes the Gunners’ schedule in the country after the previously announced fixture against Nagoya Grampus on Monday, July 22.
The Saitama City Cup celebrates its 10th anniversary this summer, with previous clubs to have competed including Barcelona, Manchester United and Inter Milan. Managed by former player Mihailo Petrovic, the Urawa Reds were formed in 1950 and play in Japan’s football league, J-League Division 1.
"We know that Urawa Reds frequently have large crowds at their J-League matches and the Saitama City Cup has seen top European teams compete against the Urawa Reds in previous summers"
Arsene Wenger
The match will bring the Arsenal Asia Tour 2013 to a close, with the Club visiting Jakarta, Indonesia to play the Indonesian national team on Sunday, July 14 at the 88,000 capacity Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.
Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis said: “We are delighted to confirm our involvement in the Saitama City Cup this July in Japan. We know we will have very strong and vocal support with our Japanese Arsenal supporters in attendance. This will be our second and final fixture in the country as part of the Arsenal Asia Tour 2013.”
Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger added: “I am delighted to be returning to Japan where I spent two very happy years before joining Arsenal. We are very happy to be visiting Saitama this summer after our trip to Nagoya. We know that Urawa Reds frequently have large crowds at their J-League matches and the Saitama City Cup has seen top European teams compete against the Urawa Reds in previous summers. The match follows our other fixture in Japan against Nagoya Grampus, and we are sure to receive a very warm welcome from our many supporters in Saitama.”
Details for match tickets will be announced through Arsenal.com in the coming weeks. Information of any additional pre-season fixtures will also be communicated in due course.
Arsenal Football Club would like to thank ProEvents for their continued cooperation for the third successive year with Arsenal’s tours to Asia.
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