|
|
Arsenal and Manchester City set for summer friendly in China
The two Premier League giants hope to expand their followings in the Asian economic powerhouse by playing a glamour pre-season match at the Bird's Nest Olympic stadium
09-Feb-2012 2:08:43 AM
By George Ankers
Getty Images
Arsenal and Manchester City are to contest a pre-season match in Beijing in the summer, Chinese officials have confirmed.
The two sides will face off in the Bird’s Nest stadium, built for the 2008 Olympic Games, with the exact date to be revealed soon.
The Beijing Football Association announced that the Premier League rivals will revive their connections to China with full-strength line-ups being refereed by the 2010 World Cup final referee Howard Webb, and a selection of Chinese team of match officials.
Arsenal visited the Asian nation for the first time last summer and were said to be surprised at the positive reception they received, while City are becoming more well-known in the country after initally coming to the fore with the signing of China international Sun Jihai in 2002.
In an effort to have the match played at a high standard, the turf at the Bird’s Nest will be temporarily prevented from being used from July 1 until the day of the game.
The two sides will face off in the Bird’s Nest stadium, built for the 2008 Olympic Games, with the exact date to be revealed soon.
The Beijing Football Association announced that the Premier League rivals will revive their connections to China with full-strength line-ups being refereed by the 2010 World Cup final referee Howard Webb, and a selection of Chinese team of match officials.
Arsenal visited the Asian nation for the first time last summer and were said to be surprised at the positive reception they received, while City are becoming more well-known in the country after initally coming to the fore with the signing of China international Sun Jihai in 2002.
In an effort to have the match played at a high standard, the turf at the Bird’s Nest will be temporarily prevented from being used from July 1 until the day of the game.
Inside Goal.Com
-
Vote for your Goal.com World Player of the Week
Have your say on who you think should win Goal.com's weekly honour
-
Euro 2012 a timely respite for depressed Spain
With 24 per cent unemployment, wage cuts and little hope for improvement in the short term, the continental competition will at least take people's minds off their sad situation
-
Welbeck impresses but it's a bad day for Johnson
Ashley Young has also all but secured his place in the starting line up against France while Steven Gerrard put a good shift in. Here's how the Belgium friendly affected the England player's chances of featuring in Euro 2012
-
Five players Rodgers could sign for Liverpool
The new Reds boss was unveiled to the press on Friday and must immediately begin work on revitalising a thin squad with some additions in the transfer market
-
Lambert the latest in EPL manager merry-go-round
The Scot officially left Norwich City on Saturday to become the second new boss in June, following the appointment of Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool on Friday