Arsenal set for China

Arsenal Football Club is delighted to announce that the first-team squad will be travelling to China in July to play Manchester City in the famous Beijing National Stadium. Arsenal and Manchester City will play each other in the inaugural ‘China Cup’, a one-off match in Beijing’s ‘Bird’s Nest’ Stadium on Friday, July 27, kick off 8pm local time. The Gunners will be travelling to China for the second consecutive year, following their successful summer Asia tour in July 2011, in which the Club played matches in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Hangzhou, China. Arsenal Chief Executive Ivan Gazidis said: “Further to our hugely successful visit to Hangzhou in 2011, everyone at Arsenal is extremely excited to once again be visiting China this year. “We enjoy huge support in Asia and by playing a match in Beijing, we will once again be bringing the Club close to our loyal fans in China. The players and staff had an amazing time in China last year and we are all looking forward to visiting this great country again in July. “The match against Manchester City is sure to be an exciting spectacle, with many great players from both sides playing in front of thousands of supporters in the wonderful ‘Bird’s Nest’ Stadium. It is also fitting that two English clubs are playing each other on the opening day of the London 2012 Olympics, in the stadium which hosted Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.” Ticket details and travel options for supporters wishing to attend the match in Beijing will feature soon on Arsenal.com, together with any developments and news regarding Arsenal’s summer pre-season schedule.