Colorado Rapids vs Arsenal
2019/20 pre-season
Venue: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Date: Tuesday, July 16, 2019
Kick-off time: 2am BST
Arsenal are already under pressure before a ball has been kicked this summer, with the club's transfer issues dominating the headlines as they prepare to face Colorado Rapids in the first match of their US pre-season tour.
Captain Laurent Koscielny has boycotted the tour as he attempts to force his way out of the club and return to France, with head coach Unai Emery understandably furious with his skipper's behaviour.
After missing out on Champions League football last season, Emery must contend with a limited £40million transfer budget as he attempts to bridge the gap to the Premier League's top four.
And with Koscielny making things even harder for Emery, the coach must ensure his players are focussed on the pitch as they get ready for another long season.
Here's what you need to know...
Arsenal team news and squad
Koscielny is the biggest absentee from the tour after refusing to travel to the US.
The Frenchman, 33, moved to force his exit from the club on Thursday morning with a refusal to take part in the US tour, during which Arsenal will face Real Madrid and Bayern Munich among others.
With interest from his home country the defender, who has made over 350 appearances for the club since arriving in 2010, is looking to engineer a move away with a year remaining on his deal. Arsenal do not want to let him leave for nothing.
Youngster Krystian Bielik, who is of interest to AC Milan after being told he is not part of Emery’s plans for the new season, has not been included in the squad.
Defender Calum Chambers has travelled after spending last season on loan with Fulham, where won player of the season as the west Londoners were relegated back to the Championship.
Arsenal pre-season squad (subject to change): Leno, Martinez, Macey, Bellerin, Jenkinson, Chambers, Sokratis, Mustafi, Holding, Mavropanos, Medley, Monreal, Kolasinac, Thompson, Maitland-Niles, Willock, Xhaka, Burton, Olayinka, Mkhitaryan, Ozil, Nelson, Smith Rowe, Martinelli, Saka, Aubameyang, Lacazette, Nketiah, John-Jules
Tickets
Click here for more information about tickets to the match.
Prediction: Colorado Rapids 1-3 Arsenal
Rapids finished rock bottom of the Western Conference. While a fair few Arsenal players will understandably be some way off peak fitness, they should have more than enough about them to seal a win.
TV channel and live stream information
The match will be shown live on Premier Sports 1, which is available to Sky and Virgin Media customers for £11.99 a month.
Audio commentary will be available on Arsenal's website.
Standard Sport will have full coverage of the match wit our LIVE blog.
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