• Bayer Leverkusen will play Arsenal in a pre-season friendly on August 7, reuniting coaches Xabi Alonso and Mikel Arteta
• Leverkusen’s Nigerian striker Victor Boniface will compete against Arsenal’s Nigerian-born winger Bukayo Saka at the Emirates Stadium

Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen will play against Premier League runners-up Arsenal in a pre-season friendly on August 7 in London, the German club announced on Monday.

This match will reunite several players and see childhood friends and teammates Xabi Alonso and Mikel Arteta, who now coach Leverkusen and Arsenal respectively, go head-to-head.

Midfielder Granit Xhaka, who joined Leverkusen before last season after seven years with Arsenal, will face his former team. During his time at Leverkusen, Xhaka won both the Bundesliga and the German Cup.

Arsenal striker Kai Havertz, who progressed through Leverkusen’s youth system, moved to Chelsea in 2020 before joining Arsenal in 2023.

Additionally, Leverkusen’s Nigerian striker Victor Boniface will compete against Arsenal’s Nigerian-born winger, Bukayo Saka.

The match will take place at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium.

Under Alonso’s guidance, Leverkusen had an unbeaten domestic run, securing the Bundesliga title for the first time in their history and winning the German Cup. They lost only one of 53 games last season, which was the Europa League final against Atalanta.

Arsenal finished two points behind Manchester City in the Premier League, closely contesting the title.

The teams last faced each other competitively in the Champions League group stage in 2002, with Arsenal winning the second leg in London after a 1-1 draw in Germany.

Arsenal will also play Manchester United and Liverpool as part of a summer tour in the United States, while Leverkusen will stay in Europe.