Former J. League and Asian club champions Urawa Reds will play English Premier League giants Arsenal in a home friendly this summer, local officials said Thursday.
Arsenal will take on the Reds at Saitama Stadium 2002 on July 26, four days after playing Nagoya Grampus at Toyota Stadium, according to Saitama Prefecture and the city of Saitama.
Reds captain Yuki Abe, who had a spell in England at second-tier Leicester City, said he was looking forward to the match having missed the chance to play against the Gunners before he rejoined Reds in January last year.
"When I was playing in England, I wanted to play Arsenal in the F.A. Cup but it never happened. I am glad that I will be able to play them now that I am back in Japan."