Villarreal and Athletic Club friendlies confirmed

We’re delighted to announce two pre-season matches at Emirates Stadium as part of our preparations for the 2025/26 campaign.

On Saturday, August 9 at 5pm UK time, our men’s first team will play Spanish side Athletic Club in this year’s Emirates Cup.

That fixture comes after the visit of another La Liga side to N5, when we host Villarreal on Wednesday, August 6, with the match kicking off at 6pm UK time.

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First staged in 2007, at the end of our first season at Emirates Stadium, this year will be the 14th edition of the Emirates Cup. Last August, we welcomed Lyon to Emirates Stadium and enjoyed a hard-fought 2-0 victory over the French side.

Our two pre-season fixtures at Emirates Stadium will follow on from our men’s tour to the Singapore and Hong Kong, where we play AC Milan and Newcastle United in the National Stadium in Singapore on July 23 and 27 respectively, followed by a clash with Tottenham Hotspur at the Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong on Friday, July 31.

Richard Garlick, our Managing Director, said: “We’re delighted to once again be hosting the Emirates Cup this pre-season. Welcoming Athletic Club for the Emirates Cup on the Saturday, after playing Villarreal the previous Wednesday will be exciting and strong tests for us.

“The matches will give our supporters the opportunity to see our men’s team in pre-season action at home, and will also provide Mikel and the players with a very competitive level of preparation ahead of the new season.

“Emirates has been the proud partner of our pre-season Emirates Cup since 2007, and we’re delighted they are continuing their long-standing commitment to us.”

Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer at Emirates, said: “We’re proud to continue our long-standing partnership with Arsenal through the Emirates Cup, a fixture that has become a highlight of the pre-season calendar. Hosting Athletic Club at Emirates Stadium reflects the tournament’s tradition of bringing world-class football to fans in London.

"As we look ahead to the 2025/26 season, we’re excited to be part of the team’s preparations and to offer supporters another memorable experience.”

Tickets for both matches will go on sale on Monday, July 7 at 11am (UK) with priority access for members.

You can find out full details of the sales windows and pricing for the Villarreal game, as well as the Emirates Cup clash against Athletic Club.

Once on general sale, tickets can be purchased online, as well as hospitality packages.

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