A former participant of the MLS All-Star fixture, former Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney – now in control of the reins at D.C. United – will temporarily push his side’s domestic struggles to one side in a bid to help the Americans record three straight wins in this blockbuster match.
Coined in 1996 – initially as a showdown between the best that the Eastern and Western sides of MLS had to offer – the All-Star fixture has since expanded to host clubs from all across Europe, including the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Juventus and, of course, a plethora of esteemed British clubs.
Following a brief hiatus in 2020 owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the MLS All-Stars have got the better of a Liga MX All-Stars team twice in a row, firstly winning on penalties in 2021 in a match where now-Arsenal goalkeeper Matt Turner was named the Most Valuable Player.
Sticking with the Gunners theme, former Arsenal youngster Carlos Vela was also on target last year as the MLS All-Stars defeated their Mexican counterparts 2-1, where Raul Ruidiaz also made the net ripple before an inconsequential late strike from Kevin Alvarez.
The MLS squads of yesteryear have claimed some notable scalps in the All-Star games, putting Chelsea, Bayern and Tottenham Hotspur to the sword between 2012 and 2015, and the opportunity to inflict more misery – albeit short-lived misery – on Arsenal is one that Rooney should not want to pass up.
Back in February, Arsenal midfielder Jorginho benefitted from a highly fortunate own goal by Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, but during the Gunners’ friendly showdown with Nurnberg, the Italian was on the wrong end of such a comical error.
Seeking to replicate their 5-3 thrashing of the German second-tier side from 2022, Arsenal got off to the perfect start at the Max-Morlock-Stadion through Bukayo Saka’s crisp opener, before Jorginho inexplicably passed back into his own net under pressure in the second period.
Links >> Stream 1 HD Stream 2 HD Stream 3 HD Stream 4 HD
Having also shared the spoils in a training-ground affair with Watford, Arteta’s men are still waiting for their first pre-season win of the summer, although recent shortcomings paled into insignificance once £105m man Declan Rice signed on the dotted line.
As well as battling the MLS All-Stars, Arsenal are also set to face Manchester United and Barcelona in the USA before travelling back to their North London headquarters, where Monaco will aim to become the latest team to deny the Gunners the Emirates Cup crown.
Arsenal are actually the most recent English team to feature in the MLS All-Star Game, defeating their transatlantic foes 2-1 in 2016, when Didier Drogba and Joel Campbell found the back of the net before Chuba Akpom – now finding the net for fun at Middlesbrough – bagged an 87th-minute winner en route to winning the MVP award.
