Arsenal will begin life after Arsene Wenger in 2018-19 as they embark on a new era without the iconic Frenchman at the helm.
It remains to be seen who will be in the dugout at the Emirates next season, but fans will soon see what Wenger’s successor has to offer when the club get their pre-season under way.
The north London side are back in the International Champions Cup this summer, which means they will have games against top opposition in Asia and Europe to look forward to as a warm-up exercise.
This is your complete guide to the Gunners’ 2018 pre-season tour, with dates, venues and all you need to know about the preparations.
Arsenal pre-season fixtures
| Date | Opponent | Time (local / BST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 14 | Boreham Wood* | 3pm | Meadow Park, Borehamwood |
| Jul 26 | Atletico Madrid | 7:30pm / 12:30pm | Singapore National Stadium |
| Jul 28 | PSG | 7:30pm / 12:30pm | Singapore National Stadium |
| Aug 4 | Chelsea | 8pm / 7pm | Friends Arena, Solna |
* An Arsenal XI will play
Arsenal will be one of five English clubs taking part in the 2018 International Champions Cup and they will play three games in the competition.
While the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool will be competing in the United States, Arsenal’s games will be held in Singapore, with their final game taking place in Sweden.
First up the Gunners renew acquaintance with their Europa League conquerors Atletico Madrid at Singapore National Stadium on July 26, so they will have a chance to redeem themselves.
Two days after that at the same venue they lock horns with Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain and they return to Europe on August 4 for the final game.
Interestingly, those three games are the full extent of Arsenal’s pre-season plans, which sees them commit to fewer games than, for example, Man United, who have five matches on their schedule.
It is possible that the club will announce more pre-season matches, but the window between the end of the World Cup in mid July and the start of the Premier League season is tight.
Fans wishing to see the next generation in action will have a chance when an Arsenal XI face Boreham Wood on July 14 – the day before the World Cup final.
When does the season start?
The 2018-19 Premier League season will get started on August 11, with the full fixture list set to be revealed in June. As such, we don’t yet know who Arsenal will play in the first game.
In 2017, the Gunners raised the curtain on the season, along with Chelsea, in the Community Shield, but a lack of success in the cups means that there will be no such commitments in 2018-19.
With a game against Chelsea in Sweden to play on August 4 that leaves just a week before the campaign gets underway.
