MLS All-StarMLS All-Starvs.Arsenal

Mikel Arteta's men have already been denied victory in two friendly matches this term, playing out a pair of 1-1 draws with Watford and German second-tier side Nurnberg.

Match preview

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.

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.

Arsenal friendly form:

Team News

A total of 28 players have made Rooney's roster for Wednesday's match - some chosen by fans, some by Rooney and a handful by MLS commissioner Don Garber - but there is no space for Inter Miami new boy Lionel Messi.

The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner was officially unveiled in the United States over the weekend, but fans must wait a little longer for his MLS inauguration, while ex-Arsenal man Vela has also denied a reunion with his former employers, having been omitted from the squad.

Nevertheless, recognisable names such as Christian Benteke and Riqui Puig could form a part of Rooney's starting lineup at Audi Field, as may Argentina's Thiago Almada, who in December became the first active MLS player to win the World Cup.

While MLS' marquee arrival will play no part in this game, Arsenal's British-record signing Rice has made the journey alongside another recent signing in Jurrien Timber, and the duo could make their first appearances for the North London powerhouses at Audi Field; fellow new boy Kai Havertz debuted against Nurnberg.

Martin Odegaard and Leandro Trossard both travelled back from Germany with injuries, and while it is unclear how serious their issues are, both have made the squad, as have Takehiro Tomiyasu, Rob Holding, Fabio Vieira, Gabriel Martinelli, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Mohamed Elneny as they work back up to full fitness.

USA international Folarin Balogun has also made the trip home amid speculation over his future, but Cedric Soares, Reiss Nelson, Nicolas Pepe, Albert Sambi Lokonga are all missing. Emile Smith Rowe and Thomas Partey did not board the flight either, but Arsenal expect both men to join up with the squad at some point this week.

MLS All-Star possible starting lineup:

Burki; Hollingshead, Glesnes, Zimmerman, Tolkin; Almada, Herrera, Puig; Mukhtar, Benteke, Bouanga

Arsenal possible starting lineup:

Ramsdale; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Tierney; Jorginho, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli

We say: MLS All-Star 1-3 Arsenal

Neither Rooney nor Arteta will be concerning themselves with the scoreline in the top left-hand corner this week, and an entertaining spectacle should be on the menu, especially with Balogun likely to get a hero's welcome when he enters the fray.

Arsenal's momentum will be inevitably disrupted when Arteta rings the changes, but with their exciting new arrivals aiming to make an impression, we still have faith in the Gunners to sink the All-Stars for the second time.

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