Arsène Wenger: 'Perfect time' for Arsenal to play in United States

As Arsenal prepares for its friendly against the New York Red Bulls, manager Arsène Wenger told the club's website that this is the "perfect time" for the team

As Arsenal prepares for its friendly against the New York Red Bulls, manager Arsène Wenger told the club's website that this is the "perfect time" for the team to play in the United States.

Wenger said Arsenal's trip to America is the "perfect time" for the club to visit based on soccer's rising popularity in the United States. 

Arsenal's first-team squad is set to fly to New York later this week to take on the Red Bulls on Saturday. Red Bulls' captain Thierry Henry will be facing his former club. At Arsenal, the forward scored a record 226 goals in all competitions.Wenger, via Arsenal.com:

“I can tell you something I'm completely convinced of - before people didn't know who you were, but now every American guy I met knows Arsenal, knows England and knows the Premier League.

“The enthusiasm about soccer in the States is new but big. I expect us to have a good crowd there."

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The match will take place at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. on Saturday at 5 p.m. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes.

This is Arsenal's only match in the United States on its preseason tour. The Arsenal first team last visited the US in 1989 for an exhibition match with Independiente of Argentina in Miami. 

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- Sarah Barshop