Scottish Premiership’s Hibernian will host Arsenal at Easter Road in a pre-season friendly ahead of 2021-22 campaign.
The fixture will kick off at 6pm BST on Tuesday 13 July 2021 as part of a pre-season training camp for Mikel Arteta’s Gunners up in Edinburgh.
Arsenal won’t be the first English club in pre-season to have visited Hibs in recent years, with Blackburn, Newcastle and Sunderland amongst those to have visited Easter Road in the last decade.
Hibs’ Interim Chief Executive, Greg McEwan has spoken of feeling “delighted” that the club will host Arsenal in July, with hope that the fixture will mark the return of spectators to Easter Road.
Next season will also see the Hibees return to European competition for the first time since reaching the Third Qualifying Round of Europa League in 2018-19, where they lost to Molde.
McEwan therefore hopes that this game is a sign of what fans can look forward to next season, saying; “We have secured our return to European football and matches like these should give us a great taste of what is to come throughout the 2021/22 season.”
Arteta meanwhile is “pleased” to have confirmed this friendly fixture early as Arsenal begin to prepare for their biggest season yet, as the Gunners look to bounce back from a poor 2020-21 campaign.
Arsenal will also face Rangers as part of their trip to Scotland, with Arteta confident that both teams will provide “… good tests for us and we’re looking forward to playing against two strong opponents.”
Arteta also iterated that this pre-season will be “an important time” for his players as he looks to shape his squad for next season, which is set to include William Saliba and Joe Willock amongst returning players who are currently out on loan at various clubs.
Hibs have confirmed that only home supporters will be permitted to attend this fixture due to Coronavirus induced restrictions in Scotland.
Further details on tickets for home supporters and alternative viewing methods for those supporters of both clubs who are unable to attend will be announced in due course.
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