Arsenal to play Juventus at the Emirates Stadium during World Cup break

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Arsenal will reportedly play Italian giants Juventus in a friendly next month at the Emirates Stadium, with the Serie A side set to be the Gunners final exhibition before the return of the Premier League.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Mikel Arteta’s side will face off against Juventus in north London on December 17th, the day before the 2022 FIFA World Cup final and nine days before Arsenal host West Ham on Boxing Day in a headline Premier League fixture.

As per the report, Arsenal were set to play FC Barcelona, however, Juventus will now travel to the English capital to take on the Gunners, with the European giants set to take on the Catalan side five days later in what will be two headline club friendlies over the World Cup.

Arsenal already have plans to travel to Dubai at the start of December where the Premier League leaders will feature in the Dubai Super Cup alongside AC Milan, Liverpool and Olympique Lyonnais, with players who won’t compete in Qatar to travel to the UAE for the competition.

Indeed, it has been over 15 years since Arsenal last faced Juventus, with the Gunners besting the Turin side in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals in 2006 as Arsene Wenger led the north London side to their first, and currently only, final in the competition.

Whilst this contest is only a friendly, facing off against a Champions League regular in Juventus will be a great test for Arsenal, who will still have some key players in their squad to work with over the World Cup break, namely Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Maghelese and Emile Smith Rowe, who is set to return from injury soon.

Insider View: Juventus friendly will be perfect test for Arsenal

Arsenal’s mid-season plans for the World Cup break are falling nicely into place, with Arteta set to take the remainder of his squad to the Middle East before one final clash at the Emirates against Juventus, who will be a perfect opponent for the north London side ahead of the return of the Premier League.

After all, Juventus are one of Europe’s biggest teams and will give the Gunners a good contest. And for Arsenal, a good performance in front of supporters will be an ideal confidence boost before facing West Ham, with the festive fixtures set to be key for the north London side.