Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says the club’s pre-season tour of Asia will boost morale despite the potential departure of Robin van Persie.
The Gunners have travelled to Kuala Lumpur to face a Malaysian 11, and will then move on to Hong Kong and China for further fixtures against Manchester City and Kitchee SC.
Club captain Van Persie has refused to travel with the squad as he looks to force a move to the Premier League champions, but the 62-year-old Wenger maintained that the squad are in good spirits.
Wenger told reporters: “It is an opportunity as well that people may not realise because we travel as a group of people from the club, (and we can) be together with people on the tour that we do not (have the opportunity to spend time with) during the season.
“The players will realise that this is a real organisation, because usually when the season starts we live in a bubble and just focus on the next game.
“So it creates a solidarity inside the club and the team, because we stay together and it is difficult in modern life to spend a lot of time together.”
The Frenchman also spoke of the team’s aims for their tour of Asia, reserving special praise for those Arsenal fans who live in the Far East.
“We are here firstly to share with you the way we see and play football,” he added.
“Secondly to prepare for a season that we hope will be very successful and thirdly to test the Malaysian 11, who promise us a hard time.
“Last year we discovered that we have many more fans in Asia than you can imagine. Not only do we have many fans, but they are also well-informed about our club and share the values of our club.”
