Journalist: Wrexham Forced to Improvise After Arsenal and Liverpool Pull Out | OneFootball

Wrexham’s Pre-Season Disrupted by Arsenal and Liverpool Withdrawals

Wrexham AFC, fresh off back-to-back promotions and brimming with optimism, had their pre-season plans severely disrupted when Premier League giants Arsenal and Liverpool cancelled scheduled friendlies. This decision, particularly unexpected given the fanfare surrounding Wrexham’s recent successes and their American ownership, left the club scrambling for alternative fixtures and highlighted the challenges faced by lower-league teams when dealing with the footballing elite.

Arsenal’s Decision to Withdraw

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, who had planned to play Wrexham as part of their U.S. tour, pulled out of the friendly at the last minute. According to Cameron Winstanley in The Mirror, Arteta chose to cancel the match after reconsidering his squad’s pre-season schedule. The Gunners opted to stay in Los Angeles to prepare for their fixture against Manchester United, rather than travelling to another state to face Wrexham. This decision, while pragmatic from a logistical standpoint, deprived Wrexham of a significant pre-season test against one of England’s top teams.

Arteta’s choice to cancel the game was likely influenced by the need to manage his squad’s workload. With the Premier League season looming and a busy schedule ahead, the Gunners had to prioritise their preparations. Nonetheless, for Wrexham, this was a missed opportunity to not only test themselves against elite opposition but also to capitalise on their growing popularity in the U.S., largely driven by the success of their documentary series, Welcome to Wrexham.

Photo: IMAGO

Liverpool’s Impact on Wrexham’s Preparations

Liverpool, another Premier League heavyweight, also withdrew from a planned behind-closed-doors friendly with Wrexham before heading to the U.S. This forced the Welsh club to hastily arrange an alternative match against Hanley Town, an eighth-tier side. While Wrexham managed to secure a fixture, the difference in quality between Liverpool and Hanley Town is stark, leaving Phil Parkinson’s side without the level of competition they would have faced had the original match gone ahead.

As Parkinson pointed out, “We had a game organized against a Premier League club behind closed doors at their training ground which they pulled out of because of complications with their pre-season tour.” This late change, while frustrating, reflects the challenges smaller clubs face when relying on bigger teams for pre-season fixtures. The lack of a high-calibre opponent in preparation could have a knock-on effect as Wrexham enters their League One campaign.

Navigating a Tricky Start to League One

Despite these setbacks, Wrexham concluded their North American tour with a 4-1 victory against MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps and a 1-0 win over League Two club Fleetwood Town back home. However, these results may not fully prepare them for the rigours of League One, where they will face more formidable opponents. With their first match against Wycombe Wanderers and a trip to Sheffield United in the EFL Cup, Wrexham’s season start is challenging, to say the least.

Phil Parkinson remains realistic about Wrexham’s prospects in League One, acknowledging the difficulties ahead. “We’ve got more of an underdog feel because you’re competing against your Birminghams and your Boltons and teams like that who have got huge spending power,” Parkinson noted. This underdog mentality might serve Wrexham well, but the absence of top-tier pre-season competition could leave them underprepared for the step up in quality they will face.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

As Liverpool fans, it’s disappointing to see how our club’s actions impacted a lower-league team like Wrexham. While we understand the complications of pre-season tours, especially with the global brand that Liverpool has become, there’s a sense that smaller clubs are often left out in the cold when the bigger teams change their plans.

Liverpool pulling out of the friendly was undoubtedly a blow to Wrexham’s preparations. The Reds, with their world-class players and tactical sophistication, would have provided a stern test for the newly-promoted League One side. Instead, Wrexham was forced to face a significantly weaker opponent, which doesn’t offer the same level of preparation or prestige.

From a fan’s perspective, it’s a reminder that football is not just about the big clubs and the glamour of the Premier League. It’s also about the smaller teams, the grassroots, and the community spirit that makes the sport so special. Wrexham’s journey under the ownership of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney has captured the imagination of fans around the world, and it’s unfortunate that their pre-season plans were disrupted in this way.

While we hope that Wrexham’s season will not be adversely affected by these cancellations, there’s a lingering question about the responsibilities of larger clubs towards the smaller ones, especially in the pre-season context. It’s a delicate balance, but one that deserves more consideration in the future.