Arsenal vs Manchester United Pre-season to generate record revenue for club game

Arsenal and Manchester United are set to face each other for the first time in the US in a friendly at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey which has sold out

Arsenal return to action when they take on Manchester United in their next pre-season friendly in the United States of America.

The Gunners got their summer underway with a 5-0 defeat of the MLS All-Stars, managed by Wayne Rooney, on Wednesday with Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard, Jorginho, Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz all on the scoresheet for Mikel Arteta's men. United have already played two friendlies, beating Leeds United and Olympique Lyonnais 2-0 an 1-0 respectively before jetting out to the States.

Arsenal will play the Red Devils at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, just across the border from New York City, on Saturday at 5pm local time (10pm BST) in a money-spinning friendly. The 82,500 capacity stadium, the home of the National Football League's New York Giants and New York Jets teams, is sold out for a game billed as being part of the 'Old Rivals New York' promotion, which sees Arsenal play United for the first time in the US.

The game is being promoted by American giants AEG, who have managed tours for Taylor Swift and the Rolling Stones, and Simon Stone from the BBC has said that the game will generate record revenues. "Organisers confirm Man Utd v Arsenal tomorrow is a sell-out and will generate record revenues for a club game at the MetLife Stadium," he said.

With the majority of the fans in attendance likely to be from the States, desperate for a glimpse of the players they watch on television every week, merchandise sales are expected to be through the roof with the clubs expected to profit. Arsenal vs United will blow other club matches held at the MetLife Stadium out of the water, with Liverpool vs Manchester City in July 2018 only attracting 52,000 fans.

Indeed, the last time the MetLife Stadium saw a crowd of 82,000 was July 2017 and there have only been four 82,000 attendances in 17 soccer matches played at the ground.

In comparison, the average attendances of both the Giants and Jets for the 2022 NFL season were 78,009 and 76,474 respectively.