MLS All-Star vs Arsenal predictions for this friendly pre-season game that will be played on Thursday morning. Wayne Rooney’s MLS All Star side square off with the Gunners at Audi Field. Read on for all our free betting tips and predictions.
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Match Live Thursday, 20h July at 1:30 am In:
MLS All-Star vs Arsenal Predictions
Rooney’s MLS All-Stars Meet Arteta’s Arsenal
Key Stats
– Rooney’s MLS All-Stars have a chance to record three consecutive wins in the All-Star fixture.
– Arsenal’s £105m signing Declan Rice could make his debut in this match.
– Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka has scored 14 goals in the previous season.
This summer, for the first time since 2016, Arsenal will step onto the North American pitch as the main attraction in the marquee clash, facing off against Wayne Rooney’s MLS All-Star team at Audi Field.
A Historic Showdown
Introduced in 1996 as a competition between the East and West MLS elites, the All-Star fixture has evolved into a welcoming stage for Europe’s football titans, like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Juventus, along with many respected British clubs. After a brief hiatus in 2020, the MLS All-Stars claimed victories in 2021 and 2022 against Liga MX All-Stars. Arsenal’s current goalkeeper Matt Turner was deemed Most Valuable Player in one of those clashes.
All-Stars Ready for Action
The All-Stars, with former Arsenal star Carlos Vela among their ranks, have bested Chelsea, Bayern, and Tottenham Hotspur between 2012 and 2015. This year, the All-Stars aim to continue their streak against the Gunners. Rooney, a former participant of the All-Star fixture and now leading D.C. United, will temporarily set aside his team’s domestic woes to notch a third consecutive win in this high-profile match.
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Wayne Rooney has called up 28 players for the Wednesday encounter, including fan-favorites and MLS Commissioner Don Garber’s selections. Noticeable inclusions are Christian Benteke and Riqui Puig, while Inter Miami’s new recruit Lionel Messi and ex-Arsenal man Carlos Vela are missing from the lineup.
Arsenal’s Road to Victory
Arsenal have had an unsettling pre-season, resulting in a pair of 1-1 draws with Watford and Nurnberg. However, the Gunners are still in the game, bolstered by the addition of £105m man Declan Rice to the ranks. The team is preparing for a rigorous schedule, including matches against Manchester United and Barcelona in the USA before they return to their North London base.
The Gunners’ roster includes recent signings Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice, who may make their debuts in this match. Despite injury worries for Martin Odegaard and Leandro Trossard, they have been included in the squad along with other key players.
Our predictions
Given the background and the stats at hand, it’s time for us to make some informed predictions.
1. Game Outcome: Arsenal Win
To generate our first prediction, we will consider the ‘win-draw-away’ market. It is certainly no easy task to predict the outcome of a friendly match, which is precisely why we’re not suggesting high stakes. So let’s delve into the statistics and recent form of both teams. Arsenal have endured two friendly matches without victory, registering 1-1 draws with Watford and Nurnberg, a German second-tier team. On the contrary, MLS All-Stars, under the temporary management of Wayne Rooney, aim for their third consecutive victory in this exhibition match.
However, Arsenal, as a Premier League team, arguably possesses higher quality and depth in their squad, which can tip the balance in their favour. As shown by their league statistics, Arsenal has a solid average of 2.3 goals per game and a possession rate of nearly 60%, both of which indicate a dominant and potent style of play that can overpower the MLS All-Stars. Therefore, despite recent setbacks in friendly matches, we predict an Arsenal win, with the expectation that their new arrivals, including Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber, will be motivated to make a notable impact on the pitch.
2. Correct Score Prediction: 3-2 to Arsenal
Based on Arsenal’s attacking prowess and the MLS All-Stars’ recent record in this blockbuster match, a high-scoring affair seems probable. Arsenal’s 2.3 goals per game, combined with their habit of conceding at least once a match, as shown by their goals conceded per game rate of 1.1, lead us to this prediction. Adding to this, in Arsenal’s previous encounter with the MLS All-Stars in 2016, the Gunners claimed a 2-1 victory, further supporting the notion of a close, high-scoring match.
In their most recent encounters, MLS All-Stars have defeated a Liga MX All-Stars team twice in a row, suggesting they can also find the net against Arsenal. Therefore, a 3-2 victory for Arsenal aligns with the data and seems plausible.
3. Goalscorer Prediction: Bukayo Saka
Our final prediction focuses on who will find the back of the net in this match. Given his recent form and role within the Arsenal setup, Bukayo Saka stands as a prime candidate. The 21-year-old has had an impressive run in the Premier League, playing in 38 matches and scoring 14 goals. He also started off Arsenal’s scoring run in their friendly showdown with Nurnberg, indicating his readiness for pre-season fixtures.
Saka’s versatility in attack, coupled with his knack for being at the right place at the right time, make him a significant threat to any defence. Given this, we predict Bukayo Saka will score at least once in the match. While it’s challenging to predict the first goalscorer, Saka, with his dynamic offensive capabilities and ability to take charge in crucial moments, could very well open the scoreline for Arsenal.
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