Touring the sights! Arsenal players hit iconic Sydney Harbour after getting a rousing welcome from their fans as they land in Australia for their sold-out A-League clashes
- Arsenal arrived in Australia for the first leg of their pre-season tour on Tuesday
- Mobbed by fans at the airport before hitting Sydney's iconic Circular Quay
- Squad posed for photos photos in front of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge
Arsenal arrived in Australia for the first leg of their pre-season tour on Tuesday morning.
The team was mobbed by fans at the airport before hitting Sydney's iconic Circular Quay.
The squad posed for photos in front of the Opera House and under the Harbour Bridge on a sunny day.
Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker and Petr Cech of Arsenal pose in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge
The squad posed for photos photos in front of the Opera House and under the Harbour Bridge on a sunny Sydney day
Arsenal was officially welcomed to the country at the Museum of Contemporary Art by New South Wales Minister for Trade and Industry Niall Blair (second from left)
Sunny Sydney: The Arsenal squad walk under the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Arsenal was officially welcomed to the country at the Museum of Contemporary Art by New South Wales Minister for Trade and Industry Niall Blair.
During a press conference in Sydney on Tuesday, coach Arsene Wenger rubbished reports Alexis Sanchez has told Arsenal he wants to leave this summer, expecting him to see out his contract and even sign an extension.
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Wenger, in Sydney for a two-match pre-season friendly series with A-League clubs Sydney FC and Western Sydney, reiterated his resolve not to sell Sanchez to an English Premier League rival.
'Yes, that is a continuation of what I said at the end of the season. That's what we will do,' Wenger said.
'Nobody knows today if Sanchez will be in the final year of his contract, because he can extend his contract with us at the start of the season or during the season.
'So it's not necessarily the last year of his contract at Arsenal football club.'
The team was mobbed by fans at the airport before hitting Sydney's iconic Circular Quay
Arsenal's Theo Walcott under the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Arsenal arrived in Australia for the first leg of their pre-season tour of Australia on Tuesday morning
Arsene Wenger speaks during the Arsenal Press Conference at the Musuem of Contempary Art
Sanchez has been spared the long trip to Australia after playing with Chile in the Confederations Cup.
Another target of speculation, Olivier Giroud, arrived with a star-laden travelling squad on Tuesday morning in Sydney.
The French striker is reportedly a transfer target for Everton as well as Marseille and West Ham.
Giroud lost his place up front for much of last season in favour of Sanchez and, at times, Danny Welbeck, prompting him to express a wish to play more regularly.
Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger, NSW Minister for Trade and Industry Niall Blair, Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny and Petr Cech pose in front of the Sydney Opera House
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger walks under the Sydney Harbour Bridge
The arrival of record-signing and compatriot Alexandre Lacazette could further limit his minutes, but Wenger insisted Giroud, who signed a contract extension in January, was of great value to the squad.
He was less clear about how Giroud would fit into his new-look attack.
'I don't know yet,' he said.
'The players have to accept competition, and my decisions as well, unfortunately.'
Wenger's every move over the Australian and upcoming China tour will be watched closely, after the 67-year-old Frenchman signed a two-year extension in May under heavy criticism over Arsenal's failure to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in 21 years.
Arsene Wenger shakes hands with supporters as he led his team through the airport
Alexandre Lacazette meets Arsenal fans at Sydney airport after landing on Monday night
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