Emirates Cup Preview: Arsenal to face Boca Juniors and New York Red Bulls

Arsenal vs. Boca Juniors
Saturday, July 30, 11:20 AM EDT
TV: ESPN 3, Arsenal Player (for subscribers)

Arsenal vs. New York Red Bulls
Sunday, July 31, 11:20 AM EDT
TV: Fox Soccer Channel, Arsenal Player (for subscribers)

Arsenal welcome Boca Juniors, New York Red Bulls (with Arsenal legend Thierry Henry), and Paris St. Germain to the Emirates Stadium this weekend for the first matches of the preseason in North London. The Emirates Cup is usually where the team really starts ramping up for the Premier League kickoff. With two matches in two days, the bulk of the playing squad will see action, and new tactical wrinkles may start to come to the surface.

One of these has already come to light on twitter:

Hopefully these involve caltrops, hypersonic pulses, and riders mounted on elephants. Or just, you know, not giving away free headers. Conceding slightly less than something on the order of 38% of our goals from set pieces would be good.

Check back here tomorrow morning for an open thread for the first match, and check back as well for a tactical preview of Sunday's match from SBN New York Red Bulls editor and Short Fuse member Ben Schneider.