Arsenal plan post-season tour of Australia in 2017
Wednesday 9 December 2015 07:38, UK
Arsenal will play friendlies against Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers in a 2017 summer tour of Australia.
The Gunners will play the two A-League sides at the 70,000-capacity Olympic Stadium in July, continuing a new trend of Premier League clubs heading down under in pre-season.
Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool all played in front of big crowds in Australia earlier this year, while Manchester United stopped off in Sydney during their Asia-Pacific tour in summer 2013.
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More than 155,000 fans watched Sydney FC lose to Chelsea and Spurs at the stadium in May and June this year.
Arsenal have not played in Australia since the World of Soccer Cup tour in 1977, where they were beaten twice and won once, finishing bottom of the group on two points.
George Armstrong scored their only goal in a 3-1 opening defeat to an Australia XI, before Pat Rice and Hugh McDonald notched as the Gunners were beaten again, this time 3-2 by Celtic, who won the tournament.
Liam Brady got Arsenal's only goal as they beat Red Star Belgrade 1-0 in their final match, but they finished bottom of the group on two points.
Arsenal won the Asia Trophy on their pre-season tour to Singapore last summer, beating a Singapore XI and Everton in the process.
