According to reports, local Bundesliga side LASK Linz will fly to London this week for a behind-closed-doors friendly with Arsenal at London Colney.
Unai Emery has arranged Thursday’s match as part of his side’s preparations for next week’s Europa League final with Chelsea in Baku.
It’s not the first time the Spaniard has used friendly fixtures to hone his squad. Crawley Town were invited to the training ground before the season started and Arsenal had a run out against Crystal Palace between their opening day defeat to Manchester City and the loss at Stamford Bridge.
Towards the end of the season, Emery also took the players to Dubai for a warm-weather training camp that also included a match with Al-Nasr.
LASK were second behind Red Bull Salzburg in the Austrian Bundesliga and are apparently known for their high-pressing game. It sounds as though the Gunners might be chartering a jet for our guests.
Here’s hoping it proves a useful exercise and not one that causes any injuries. Chelsea flew to the USA after their final Premier League game of the season and subsequently lost Ruben Loftus Cheek to a ruptured Achilles as they beat New England Revolution 3-0.
Both the Gunners and the Blues are expected to travel to Baku early next week before the final on Wednesday, 29 May.