Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta opens up on facing Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney’s MLS All-Stars

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says he is ‘looking forward’ to facing Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney’s MLS All-Stars on Wednesday.

The eighth Special Olympics Unified All-Star Game will take place on Wednesday, July 19 at 3pm ET (1.30am on Thursday, July 20 UK time) at the Naval Academy's Glenn Warner Soccer AFacility in Annapolis, Maryland. It will prove to be a slightly unusual pre-season fixture for the Premier League side as they go up against a hand-picked team of the MLS’ top players.

Former United striker Rooney is set to oversee the MLS team. His squad consists of 26 players in total with 12 players determined by a combined vote from fans, players and the media. Rooney has also picked 12 players, while MLS commissioner Don Garber has selected the final two members of the squad.

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The likes of Djordje Petrović, previously linked with a move to Manchester United earlier this summer, former Chelsea and Reading defender Matt Miazga, ex-Atletico Madrid midfielder Héctor Herrera and former Barcelona star Riqui Puig are all in the MLS squad for Wednesday’s game.

And Arteta says he has ‘a lot of expectations’ heading into the unique fixture.

On facing Rooney’s All-Star team at Audi Field on Wednesday, the Arsenal boss said: "Great, a lot of expectations. It’ll be a special atmosphere and something we haven’t done before so looking forward to it."

Rooney himself previously explained how honoured he is to be managing the MLS All-Stars team.

He told CNN: "I’ve played in the All-Star game on both