Lionel Messi’s new league will send its top stars to battle against the second-best team in England last season as Arsenal face the MLS All-Stars in a friendly in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday.
For Gunners supporters, it could be their first glimpse at Declan Rice, just a few days after his transfer saga ended with a move from West Ham to Arsenal. New signing Jurrien Timber is also on the roster.
The MLS All-Stars have former Liverpool man Christian Benteke, ex-Barcelona star Riqui Puig, and former Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Burki. They will be coached by the local MLS club’s manager, English legend Wayne Rooney.
Arsenal has played in the MLS All-Star Game before, winning in 2016 on a goal by Chuba Akpom three minutes from time after Joel Campbell gave the Gunners a lead via an early penalty and Didier Drogba equalized for the MLS team. Akpom today plays for Middlesbrough, Campbell has returned to Costa Rica, and Drogba has since retired.
The Sporting News is following MLS All-Stars vs. Arsenal live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen below.
MORE: Beginner’s guide to Messi’s new MLS club Inter Miami
MLS All Stars vs Arsenal live score
| 2nd Half | Goalscorers | |
| MLS All-Stars | 0 | |
| Arsenal | 3 | Gabriel Jesus 5′ Leandro Trossard (Bukayo Saka) 23′ Jorginho (penalty) 47′ |
Lineups:
Arsenal 1st Half (4-3-3, right to left): 1-Ramsdale — 4-White, 2-Saliba, 15-Kiwior, 6-Gabriel — 21-Vieira, 20-Jorginho, 19-Trossard — 7-Saka, 9-Jesus, 14-Nketiah.
Arsenal 2nd Half (4-3-3, right to left): 31-Hein — 4-White, 2-Saliba, 15-Kiwior, 6-Gabriel — 8-Odegaard, 20-Jorginho, 29-Havertz — 21-Vieira, 9-Jesus, 19-Trossard (11-Martinelli 56′)
Arsenal 65th min. (4-3-3, right to left): ;31-Hein — 12-Timber, 4-White, 18-Tomiyasu, 3-Tierney— 8-Odegaard, 41-Rice, 29-Havertz — 27-Marquinhos, 26-Balogun, 11-Martinelli
MLS All-Stars 1st min. (4-3-3, right to left): 1-Burki — 24-Hollingshead, 3-Glesnes, 25-Zimmerman, 31-Barreal — 6-Puig, 8-Martinez, 10-Mukhtar — 99-Bouanga, 20-Benteke, 11-Acosta
MLS All-Stars 33rd min. (4-3-3, right to left): 28-Miller — 24-Hollingshead, 3-Glesnes, 25-Zimmerman, 31-Barreal — 22-Carles Gil, 5-Morris, 23-Almada — 19-Espinoza, 9-Ferreira, 11-Acosta
MLS All-Stars 46th min. (4-3-3, right to left): 28-Miller — 17-Gallagher, 21-Miazga, 26-Parker, 47-Tolkin — 22-Carles Gil, 5-Morris, 23-Almada — 19-Espinoza, 9-Ferreira, 30-Zelarayan
MLS All Stars vs Arsenal live updates, highlights, commentary
68th min.: SUBS MLS All-Stars. All these subs just take any rhythm out of a game. It’s another slew of substitutions. Let’s see if we can get 10 minutes without a stoppage.
65th min.: SUBS Arsenal. It’s a debut for Declan Rice as he’s among six substitutes brought on.
62nd min.: VAR review. Referee Ted Unkel is at the monitor looking at a potential handball in the box by Matt Miazga. And several subs are about to come in. No penalty.
61st min.: YELLOW card record! Kai Havertz picks up a caution to set a new MLS All-Star record for yellow cards in a match with six.
54th min.: Injury stoppage. Leandro Trossard is down after a knee-on-knee collision with Jon Gallagher. And he has to come out of the match with Gabriel Martinelli substituting him.
47th min.: Goal Arsenal! And Jorginho wrong foots goalkeeper Tyler Miller to make it 3-0.
46th min.: Penalty Arsenal! The second half has started (and there are several subs) and just 13 seconds in Arsenal have a penalty after a Tim Parker handball on a Gabriel Jesus cross!
Halftime: MLS 0-2 Arsenal
Halftime: The MLS players started the game by putting on a show, and then Arsenal took it to another level with the two goals. But it wasn’t just the goals, because Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus, and Eddie Nketiah starred in attack. Even Jorginho had his moments.
Arsenal fans will be disappointed by Fabio Vieira, who has cut a frustrated figure. A handful of MLS takeaways have meant that Arsenal’s backline has been on its heels on a few occasions, but the MLS All-Stars have been unable to take advantage.
The difference between an established team like Arsenal and a team that was slapped together like the MLS All-Stars: the MLS players committed 12 fouls in the first half, picked up 4 yellow cards, and had 0 shots on target.
FANTASTIC FINISH FROM TROSSARD!! pic.twitter.com/E8otkcBdhM
— Back Again W/Troopz Podcast (@backagain) July 20, 2023
51st+ min.: YELLOW card to MLS’s Jakob Glesnes for blocking Eddie Nketiah who was making another dangerous run. Trossard takes this dead ball as well, but Gabriel can’t nod down the header on target.
48th+ min.: YELLOW card to MLS’s Thiago Almada for pushing Eddie Nketiah from behind as he ran at goal. The ensuing set piece is about 25 yards from goal and Leandro Trossard takes it and nearly scores with a right side-footed technique.
45th min.: Six minutes of stoppage time. There’s been little happening in recent minutes. MLS misfired through Thiago Almada and Carles Gil (latter play was offside), and Arsenal seem content to take this 2-0 lead into halftime.
33rd min.: SUBS MLS All-Stars. Before play resumes after the break, MLS manager Wayne Rooney makes a number of subs. Thiago Almada, Carles Gil, Cristian Espinoza, Jesus Ferreira, Aidan Morris, and goalkeeper Tyler Miller are in.
30th min.: Chance MLS! A corner kick bounces into the middle of the box, where Ryan Hollingshead gets a touch on it and nearly redirects it on target. And now the teams head to the benches for a hydration break.
28th min.: Chance Arsenal! It’s Leandro Trossard bossing the game with a curling cross to the far post, but Gabriel Jesus can’t get his header on target.
23rd min.: Goal Arsenal! Another spectacular strike, this time by Leandro Trossard. The Belgian receives the pass from Bukayo Saka and then puts the ball on his right foot before blasting it inside the right post.
Arsenal double their lead through @LTrossard.#MLSAllStar Game pres. by @Target pic.twitter.com/awFEZhrOXx
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 20, 2023
18th min.: YELLOW card to MLS’s left-back Alvaro Barreal. And it’s Bukayo Saka drawing another yellow in this match.
15th min.: Exhibit A that this is an All-Star Game. MLS’s Denis Bouanga nutmegs Jorginho and proceeds to attempt a chip from 40 yards out. It nearly went out for a throw-in.
13th min.: YELLOW card to MLS’s Jose ‘Brujo’ Martinez for stopping a promising attack by Bukayo Saka. American referee Ted Unkel didn’t hesitate.
11th min.: Chance MLS! Riqui Puig lays off a pass to the wide-open Christian Benteke in the Arsenal box, but Benteke can’t control and the chance is lost.
Before that Arsenal goal put them in their place, the MLS players were ballin’ out between Lucho Acosta and Hany Mukhtar. But they’re not seeing the ball nearly as much.
5th min.: Goal Arsenal! What a strike by Gabriel Jesus who is already in midseason form. It was an excellent transition and Jesus chips the goalkeeper from outside the box!
No stopping that one from @gabrieljesus9.#MLSAllStar Game pres. by @Target pic.twitter.com/pA80fk2ufT
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 20, 2023
3rd min.: For Arsenal, Eddie Nketiah is playing at left wing with Gabriel Jesus predictably down the middle of the attack. Leandro Trossard is on the left side of central midfield.
1st min.: MLS All-Stars kick off. The MLS players are wearing black and Arsenal are in electric yellow kits.
Kickoff
5 minutes to kickoff: The teams are out on the field and we’re getting ready for national anthems.
20 minutes to kickoff: It’ll be the new Arsenal jersey for tonight’s game:
A peek inside the dressing room…
… and a look at our new @adidasfootball kit 😍 pic.twitter.com/ARtaYfnR6Q
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 20, 2023
30 minutes to kickoff: The starting lineups are out.
🟡 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 🔵
🧱 Saliba at the back
🪄 Vieira in the middle
©️ Gabby skippers the side📺 Watch LIVE on @AppleTV pic.twitter.com/NOB6oMlbTf
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 19, 2023
Squad goals. 🤩
Your 2023 #MLSAllStar XI. pic.twitter.com/UiDTMzAjon
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 19, 2023
1 hour, 30 minutes to kickoff: According to reports, it’s looking like a predictable Arsenal-heavy crowd in Washington, D.C. for tonight’s match.
TONIGHT is the MLS All Star game here in DC. We’ve got a ton of Arsenal fans ready to cheer on their team.
We’ve been chatting with football fans all day at Duke’s Grocery Navy Yard. @DCNewsNow @DukesGrocery pic.twitter.com/XvqarioLIG
— Mariel Carbone (@MarielCarbone) July 19, 2023
MORE: How last year’s MLS All-Star Game went
MLS vs Arsenal lineups
Major League Soccer’s roster features players from over 15 nations appearing on the list. There are nine Americans, four Argentines (including World Cup winner Thiago Almada), and MLS top scorer Hany Mukhtar from Germany. Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi is not an All-Star despite officially signing with the league four days before.
D.C. United goalkeeper Tyler Miller was Wayne Rooney’s coach’s selection on the roster, while veteran striker Kei Kamara was named to the squad as an MLS commissioner’s pick.
MLS lineup (4-3-3, right to left): 1-Roman Burki (GK) — 24-Ryan Hollingshead, 3-Jakob Glesnes, 25-Walker Zimmerman, 31-Alvaro Barreal — 6-Riqui Puig, 8-Jose Martinez, 10-Hany Mukhtar — 99-Denis Bouanga, 20-Christian Benteke, 11-Luciano Acosta
MLS subs (18): 28-Tyler Miller (GK), 12-Djordje Petrovic (GK), 17-Jon Gallagher, 21-Matt Miazga, 26-Tim Parker, 47-John Tolkin, 23-Thiago Almada, 29-Mathieu Choiniere, 16-Hector Herrera, 22-Carles Gil, 5-Aidan Morris, 30-Lucas Zelarayan, 19-Cristian Espinoza, 7-Giorgos Giakoumakis, 38-Kei Kamara, 23-Thiago Almada, 9-Jesus Ferreira, 13-Jordan Morris
MORE: MLS all-time attendance records
We could see the debut of Declan Rice with the Gunners after he officially signed on July 15. It will have to be off the bench after he was not included in the starting XI. Mohamed Elneny, Thomas Partey, Emile Smith Rowe, and Oleksandr Zinchenko are not on the roster.
American defender Auston Trusty is on the roster, but U.S. national team goalkeeper Matt Turner is not, as he is away on vacation following his recent participation in the CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup. U.S. international striker Folarin Balogun is also in the squad, as rumors swirl regarding whether he will leave this summer for a new club or fight for a place at the top of the Arsenal attack.
Arsenal lineup (4-3-3, right to left): 1-Aaron Ramsdale (GK) — 4-Ben White, 2-William Saliba, 15-Jakub Kiwior, 6-Gabriel — 21-Fabio Vieira, 20-Jorginho, 19-Leandro Trossard — 7-Bukayo Saka, 9-Gabriel Jesus, 14-Eddie Nketiah.
Arsenal subs (14): 13-Alex Runarsson (GK), 31-Karl Hein (GK), 16-Rob Holding, 12-Jurrien Timber, 3-Kieran Tierney, 18-Takehiro Tomiyasu, 32-Auston Trusty, 45-Amario Cozier-Duberry, 29-Kai Havertz, 8-Martin Odegaard, 41-Declan Rice, 26-Folarin Balogun, 27-Marquinhos, 11-Gabriel Martinelli
MORE: Arsenal preseason fixtures | Arsenal squad for 2023/24 season
MLS All Stars vs Arsenal live stream, TV channel
The MLS All-Star Game will be played on Wednesday, July 19, kicking off at 8:30 p.m. ET.
The match will be broadcast around the world exclusively and for FREE on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, as part of the league’s exclusive media rights deal with the media giant.
