Arsenal are set to play in the MLS All-Star game this summer, the first of the Gunners’ pre-season fixtures to be reported.

The Athletic report that multiple sources claim Arsenal will be the opponents in this year’s MLS All-Star game, with the match to take play on July 19th at D.C. United’s Audi Field in Washington D.C.

As Wayne Rooney is the D.C. United head coach, he’s set to take charge of the MLS team against Arsenal.

Rooney also accidentally confirmed that Arsenal would be this year’s opponents, whilst attempting a joke.

The former Manchester United man had been asked if he might be able to organise a friendly against his old club, and he answered by saying he’d love to welcome a big club to D.C., unlike this year’s All-Star game opponents Arsenal.

Rooney wasn’t meant to reveal that, with official sources still not authorised to speak publicly about the opponent. But the ex-England striker remains a bit slow off the mark.

Arsenal have a growing link to the U.S., with Matt Turner and Auston Trusty signing for the Gunners and receiving call-ups for the USMNT this month, Kroenke Sports and Entertainment in charge of the club, and last season’s pre-season tour.

At this stage, we know very little about Arsenal’s pre-season plans, with this the first piece of information to break publicly.

Assuming the MLS All-Stars game is confirmed, the Gunners are clearly set to spend at least some of the summer in the United States.

That opens up the possibility that they could take part in the Premier League’s U.S. pre-season tournament. David Ornstein revealed back in October that the tournament would take place this summer, but Arsenal’s involvement remains a mystery.

With just a few months to get until any pre-season plans will be put into action, we should find out more before long.