Arsenal players manage 42 keepie-ups with Australian Rules ball as Gunners visit Sydney Swans

  • Arsenal hung out with Sydney Swans Australian Rules players for kick-about 
  • Gunners squad attempted keepie-ups with awkward shaped Aussie Rules ball 
  • Arsene Wenger's side are on pre-season tour starting with game against Sydney  

The Arsenal players may have been wearing incredibly dull grey tracksuits but they lit up an Australian Rules training ground with some keepie-up skills for the Sydney Swans.

Arsene Wenger's side begin their pre-season tour in earnest against Sydney on Thursday and showed off immaculate control with an oblong-shaped ball. 

The likes of Francis Coquelin and David Ospina were involved in the squad effort as the Gunners managed 42 keepie-ups.

A few members of the Arsenal squad performed keepie-ups with an Aussie Rules ball 

A few members of the Arsenal squad performed keepie-ups with an Aussie Rules ball 

The AFL side watched on in the background whilst the Gunners kicked the oblong ball

The AFL side watched on in the background whilst the Gunners kicked the oblong ball

Surrounding the circle of Arsenal players the Sydney Swans AFL team watched on at Moore Park where they train.


The Gunners are scheduled to play two games in Australia, the second of which is against Western Sydney Wanderers at ANZ Stadium on July 15. 

Last season's fifth-placed Premier League side then jet off to China for fixtures against Bayern Munich and Chelsea in Shanghai and Beijing respectively. 

Arsenal are preparing for their first pre-season game against Sydney at ANZ Stadium

Arsenal are preparing for their first pre-season game against Sydney at ANZ Stadium

The Gunners were enjoying a kick about on the Swans' training ground at Moore Park 

The Gunners were enjoying a kick about on the Swans' training ground at Moore Park 

Preparations for the new campaign will then conclude within the home comforts of the Emirates. 

A clash with Benfica on July 29 is followed by the last game of pre-season against Sevilla. 

The Swans were last season's nearly-men in the AFL, finishing runners-up and Wenger will hope a different fate awaits his side next term. 

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