ARSENAL TO PLAY PRE-SEASON GAME IN NIGERIA.

Arsenal Football Club is delighted to announce that the first-team squad will travel to Nigeria this summer for a pre-season match in Abuja on Sunday, August 5.

In what will be the Gunners’ first match on Nigerian soil, Arsène Wenger’s side will play at the 60,000 capacity Abuja National Stadium. Arsenal’s opposition will be confirmed soon and is likely to be a leading African national team.

The Club last visited Africa during a tour to South Africa in July 1993, and is returning as a result of the fantastic support which exists for the team, not only in Nigeria, but across the entire continent.

The visit to Nigeria will conclude an exciting pre-season tour schedule for Arsenal, who return to both China and Malaysia in July, following the success of last term’s Asia Tour.

The Asia leg of the tour starts in Kuala Lumpur, when the team plays against a Malaysia XI on Tuesday, July 24. The Gunners then travel to China, to play against Manchester City in Beijing on Friday, July 27, followed by a trip to Hong Kong for a match against Kitchee FC on Sunday, July 29.

Further details regarding the match in Nigeria will feature on Arsenal.com as soon as they are confirmed.

ARSENE WENGER CONFIRMS HIS DESIRE ABOUT THIERY HENRY LOAN DEAL IN WINTER TRANSFER

Arsene Wenger wants to wait and allow time before considering the return of the legend of Arsenal, Thierry Henry.

The idea can appear attractive, but Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager, prefers to think before returning to the fold the holder of the greatest number of goals scored in the jersey of Arsenal (226 goals in 369 games).

Because of the truce of the American championship, Thierry Henry, who plays the New York Red Bull, came to London to maintain the shape. But the departure of Chamakh and Gervinho to the African Cup of Nations could allow the French to pull back the jersey of a team he left in 2007. "I'll think about it during the few days off that Christmas gives us" said, careful, Arsene Wenger on the club's official website. "A short-term contract can be an ideal solution for us, but I have not spoken with Thierry."

A conversation that might be imminent because Arsenal wants to decide quickly. "We need to focus on 1 January. We have seven days to decide and I will take the opportunity to establish an inventory of the core"