Wenger backs pre-season trip to Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR – Manager Arsene Wenger is supportive of Arsenal’s change of policy to conduct lucrative tours in Asia, the Premier League club told Reuters on Tuesday, as they announced a fixture against a Malaysia XI in July.Having previously favoured taking his squad to mainland Europe for low-key pre-season tours, Wenger relaxed his stance and the 13-times English champions played money-making fixtures in Kuala Lumpur and Hangzhou, China last year.They will return to the Malaysian capital on July 24 before facing Premier League rivals Manchester City in Beijing three days later and finishing on July 29 in Hong Kong against local side Kitchee FC.Arsenal’s Communications Director Mark Gonnella said Wenger and the players fully understood the need for such tours that help the team engage with the supporters and showcase themselves to potential sponsors as well.“As we attempt to compete on the global stage, which becomes increasing difficulty from a financial point of view, clearly we need to be taking the great name of Arsenal around the world and that’s a big part of why we come,” Gonnella told Reuters.“Arsene also understood the changing environment and the need for us to get out and tell our story and show people what Arsenal is up front because it is great watching it on television but it is even better seeing it live and that is really what it is all about.

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Wenger backs pre-season trip to Malaysia