Football
ESPN staff 8y

Arsenal to play Sydney FC and Western Sydney on 2017 tour

Arsenal will play A-League clubs Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers in 2017 on their first trip to Australia in four decades.

The Premier League giants have agreed to two matches in July 2017, likely to be played at Sydney's ANZ Stadium.

It will be the first trip for Arsenal since 1977 when they beat the Socceroos 3-1 in a friendly.

Australia is becoming an increasingly attractive destination for European club, given the strong fan support. Earlier this year, Sydney FC faced Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur in pre-season games while Liverpool, Real Madrid, Manchester City and AS Roma played matches in Melbourne or Brisbane.

Sydney FC chairman Scott Barlow is predicting a sellout for his club's match against Arsenal.

"This announcement is a major coup for Sydney FC and for Australian sport," Barlow said. 

"It demonstrates once again that when the world's biggest and best football clubs come to Australia, it's Sydney FC they want to play.

"I look forward to welcoming Arsenal to Sydney in July 2017 and I anticipate another sell-out crowd and another historic night Australian football."

For 2014 Asian champions Western Sydney, it will be the first time they have hosted a high-profile overseas club in a pre-season game. Tony Popovic's side have strung six consecutive victories to sit at the top of the A-League table.

City rivals Sydney FC are no stranger to high profile games, having faced David Beckham's LA Galaxy in 2007 and 2011.

Arsenal visited Singapore in July, winning the Barclays Asia Trophy after victory over Everton in the final and have made two trips to Malaysia in recent years.

^ Back to Top ^