Arsenal announces two more fixtrues before season

Arsenal have confirmed their participation in two further pre-season friendlies ahead of the 2008/09 campaign.

The Gunners will take on Hungarian side Szombathalyi Haladas and a Burgenland XI in Austria, both matches being played during the first team squad’s pre-season training preparations in Austria.

Szombathelyi Haladas v Arsenal
Tuesday 22nd July 2008
Kick-off 6.30pm (local time)
In Szombathelyi, Hungary.

Burgenland XI v Arsenal
Monday 28th July 2008
Kick-off 6.30pm (local time)
In Ritzing, Austria.

For those who don’t know, Burgenland is a smallish region on the Austrian-Hungarian border. A notable team within the region Arsenal fans may recognise is SV Mattersburg, a team we played 2 years ago in pre-season, and beat 2-1.

I presume that many players will be taken from Mattersburg’s team, as they have had good success this year in the Austrian Bundesliga. As for Szombathelyi Haladas, Gabor Kiraly, the crazy Hungarian goalkeeper, played for them at one stage, as well as Peter Halmosi, who currently plies his trade at Plymouth.

Apparently they missed out on promotion last season for fielding inelligible players, and so stayed in N.B II last season. I would hazard a guess that they will not be stiff opposition for Arsenal, but will perhaps see the youths and reserves that Wenger decides to take with him get a chance to shine in front of Le Boss.

The Full Pre-Season Fixture Round-Up:

Arsenal begin their pre-season campaign against Barnet on Saturday, July 19 in what is becoming a traditional fixture due to the two clubs’ ongoing relationship, with the Arsenal Reserves continuing to play our ‘home’ matches at Underhill.

After returning from the pre-season training camp in Austria and taking part in the fixtures against Szombathelyi Haladas and Burgenland XI, Arsenal will travel to the re-named Mercedez-Benz-Arena (previously named Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadium) to play VfB Stuttgart on Wednesday, July 30, ahead of the Emirates Cup.

The second Emirates Cup will take place over the weekend of August 2 and 3 with Emirates Stadium once again hosting the two-day summer tournament. Joining the Gunners will be Spanish giants Real Madrid C.F, Serie A heavyweights Juventus FC and Bundesliga side HSV Hamburg.

Arsenal’s seventh pre-season fixture is against Huddersfield Town on August 6, and will mark the contribution made towards both clubs by legendary manager Herbert Chapman, as well as commemorating Huddersfield Town’s centenary year. Arsenal will play the West Yorkshire team at The Galpharm Stadium.

The pre-season fixtures will conclude with Arsenal returning to the Dutch capital to defend their trophy won in last year’s Amsterdam Tournament. Arsenal will face Ajax on Friday, August 8 and Sevilla on Saturday, August 9. Inter Milan completes the quartet of teams involved in the tournament this year, as well as commemorating Huddersfield Town’s centenary year. Arsenal will play the West Yorkshire team at The Galpharm Stadium.