ARSENAL TO TAKE ON MLS ALL STAR AS PART OF 2016 PRESEASON TOUR

Major League Soccer has announced that Premier League side Arsenal will be the opponent for the 2016 MLS All-Star Game, to be held in San Jose, California, on July 28. The game will be played in the San Jose Earthquakes' Avaya Stadium and telecast in the U.S. on ESPN and in the UK on Sky Sports.
Following last year's game against Tottenham, the appearance of Arsenal marks the second consecutive year -- and ninth time in the past 12 years -- that the MLS All-Stars will face English opposition.
The Gunners are one of England's most decorated clubs, having won 13 league titles in England's top flight, a record 12 FA Cups, two League Cups, and 14 Community Shields.

The game is the first of two games that Arsenal will play in California this summer. Following the All-Star festivities, the Gunners will play Mexican club Chivas at the StubHub Center in Los Angeles on July 31.
"Preseason is a critically important time for us and we are delighted to be going to San Jose and Los Angeles to participate in the 2016 MLS All-Star game and to play Chivas," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said in a club statement.
"We have tremendous support across America and enjoyed our visit to New York in the summer of 2014 when we played the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena.
"We look forward to giving our U.S. fans the chance to see the team play live."
Arsenal said the two California games will be the only ones the club will play outside of Europe in the 2016 preseason.
Avaya Stadium is the newest stadium in MLS, opening last year when the Earthquakes played a preseason match against the LA Galaxy on Feb. 28. The first official match then took place on March 22, 2015, against the Chicago Fire.
"We are pleased to welcome Arsenal, one of the most successful clubs in the world, to compete against the best of MLS," MLS commissioner Don Garber said in a statement.
"Our AT&T MLS All-Star Week has become a celebration for the North American soccer community, highlighted by two teams showcasing many of the world's top players. We look forward to a world-class event on July 28 at our newest state-of-the-art venue, Avaya Stadium."
Earthquakes season ticket holders will be able to buy tickets first in the U.S. before a lottery is held in April. Arsenal said they will announce their own ticket plans at a later date.