**Arsenal are ready to begin their preparations for the 2025/26 season with their pre-season schedule now confirmed.**
Following three summers in the United States, the Gunners are jetting off for a tour of Asia for the first time since 2018. While in the continent, they will play in Singapore and Hong Kong, facing off against Premier League and Serie A opposition.
Mikel Arteta's side will then return to north London where they will play two friendlies to complete their pre-season campaign. With just days until it gets underway, here is Arsenal's confirmed schedule for their 2025/26 season preparations.
Watford (19 July)
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Former Premier League foes | Alex Pantling/GettyImages
Before Arsenal set off for Asia, they will host nearby Watford at the Sobha Realty Training Centre in a [behind-closed-doors friendly](https://paininthearsenal.com/arsenal-to-start-pre-season-with-behind-closed-doors-friendly).
The Gunners will be facing the Hornets for the first time since 2023 when they encountered one another in similar circumstances with the game ending in a 1-1 draw.
This match is set to be played just hours before the squad fly out to Singapore and will be a chance for Mikel Arteta to use a mix of senior and youth players.
AC Milan (23 July)
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A tough start | KARIM SAHIB/GettyImages
Arsenal's proper campaign starts with a tie against AC Milan at the Singapore National Stadium on 23 July.
The two sides' most recent meeting came as part of a mid-season break in the 2022/23 campaign, coming up against each other in Dubai. The Gunners won the encounter 2-1 and were also victorious in the resulting penalty shootout.
Arteta will relish the opportunity to face a competitive side from another nation as his team prepare for a third consecutive Champions League campaign.
Newcastle United (27 July)
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Recent rivals | Mike Hewitt/GettyImages
Following their encounter with Milan, Arsenal will then face opposition that are a little closer to home, coming up against Newcastle.
It's not been long since the Gunners faced their league rivals, having met in the penultimate game of the season. With it being their last home game of the campaign, Arsenal signed off with a 1-0 win courtesy of a Declan Rice stunner.
Arteta will be wanting his side to replicate that result as they look to show their brilliance against a fellow Premier League side.
Tottenham (31 July)
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A new era for a top rivalry | Justin Setterfield/GettyImages
The north London derby enters a new era when Arsenal and Tottenham play each other in a foreign nation for the first time ever.
It will be the first time the two sides have met since Thomas Frank took the reins at Spurs and Arteta will be looking to make a positive start against his new rival.
The two sides last met in January when the Gunners came from behind to beat Tottenham 2-1 at the Emirates, extending their ongoing unbeaten run against their archrivals to six games.
Villarreal (6 August)
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It's been a while | Shaun Botterill/GettyImages
Arsenal return from their trip abroad to face Villarreal in a friendly at the Emirates Stadium on 6 August.
The Gunners will be facing the Yellow Submarine for the first time since they met in the semi-finals of the 2020/21 Europa League, which the latter were victorious in. However, both sides have changed a lot since then so there won't be as much bad blood as there could have been.
Athletic Bilbao (9 August)
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Looking for another win | Catherine Ivill - AMA/GettyImages
Arsenal conclude their pre-season with a tie against Athletic Bilbao, taking on the Spanish side in the Emirates Cup.
The Gunners have never met the Spaniards in their history so will be looking to begin with a win. They could face former transfer target Nico Williams, who opted against a move to north London in favour of staying with his boyhood side.
This is the fourth consecutive year Arsenal have hosted the Emirates Cup and they will be looking to win it once again. They have won the last three editions, beating Sevilla, Monaco and Lyon.
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