Arsenal are in talks with Barcelona for their final friendly of the World Cup break, with a game at the Emirates Stadium on the table.

Viktoria Plzen's Czech defender Milan Havel (R) and Barcelona's Spanish defender Hector Bellerin vie for the ball during the UEFA Champions League Group C football match FC Viktoria Plzen v FC Barcelona in Plzen, Czech Republic, on November 1, 2022. (Photo by JOE KLAMAR/AFP via Getty Images)
Viktoria Plzen’s Czech defender Milan Havel (R) and Barcelona’s Spanish defender Hector Bellerin vie for the ball during the UEFA Champions League Group C football match FC Viktoria Plzen v FC Barcelona in Plzen, Czech Republic, on November 1, 2022. (Photo by JOE KLAMAR/AFP via Getty Images)

Barcelona radio outlet RAC1 report that Barcelona and Arsenal are in talks to play a friendly on December 17th at the Emirates Stadium in London.

This fits with various previous reports, with Adrian Clarke reporting that he’d heard whispers of an exciting Emirates Stadium friendly before David Ornstein and Charles Watts added that Arsenal were in talks over a friendly against a Spanish opponent.

Nothing is confirmed yet, but Watts had previously reported that the Emirates Stadium friendly would be open to fans if it goes ahead.

According to Ornstein and Watts, Arsenal will initially be granted around 10 days off. After that, any players not involved in their country’s World Cup squad will return to training.

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Arsenal plan to travel to Dubai on December 4th for a warm-weather training camp and a mini-tournament. Players involved in the World Cup will join up as and when their countries are eliminated.

The Gunners will then play against Lyon on December 8th and AC Milan on December 13th.

Liverpool are also likely to be involved, but they won’t play against Arsenal.

Arsenal will then fly home on December 14th, before that potential friendly against Barcelona.

The Dubai friendlies will be played in the Al Maktoum Stadium, Al Nasr’s home ground, with fans allowed in attendance.

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - JULY 23: Arsenal fans show their support during the Florida Cup match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Camping World Stadium on July 23, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA: Arsenal fans show their support during the Florida Cup match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Camping World Stadium on July 23, 2022. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Arsenal’s potential World Cup schedule

  • November 13th-December 3rd – Approximately 10 days off, followed by training in London
  • December 4th – Travel to Dubai for a warm-weather camp
  • December 8th – Arsenal vs Lyon (Al Maktoum Stadium)
  • December 13th – Arsenal vs Milan (Al Maktoum Stadium)
  • December 14th – Travel back to London
  • December 17th – Arsenal vs Barcelona (Emirates Stadium)
  • December 26th – The Premier League returns
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