Arsenal's preparations for the upcoming English Premier League campaign continue on Wednesday as the north London club returns to home turf to take on La Liga outfit Villarreal in the first match of the Emirates Cup preseason tournament.
Below, we'll outline the best live TV streaming services to watch this friendly match as it happens, wherever you are in the world. We'll also explain how to use a VPN if the match isn't available where you are.
Summer signings Viktor Gyökeres, Christian Nørgaard and Martín Zubimendi are all set to make their home debuts in today's game. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has significantly bolstered his options following last season's second-place EPL finish.
Arsenal faces a Villarreal team that finished fifth in La Liga last season, with Marcelino's men coming into this match off the back of a 1-1 draw against EPL newcomers Leeds at the weekend.
Arsenal takes on Villarreal on Wednesday, Aug. 6, at the Emirates Stadium in north London. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. BST local time in the UK. That makes it a 1 p.m. ET or 10 a.m. PT start in the US and a 3 a.m. AEST kickoff in Australia on Thursday.
Mikel Arteta's Arsenal lost its previous preseason friendly to north London rivals Tottenham 1-0 last Thursday in Hong Kong. David Price/Arsenal FC/Getty Images
Livestream Arsenal vs. Villarreal in the UK, US, Australia and Canada
While this game is not set to be televised on mainstream TV channels, Arsenal's in-house streaming service will be showing the game live to subscribers.
Arsenal.com Watch the game for £5 The Gunners' own video on-demand service will showing this friendly live, alongside upcoming preseason games against Athletic Bilbao and Villareal. This match is available for £5 via an Early Bird PPV package if you purchase before 9 a.m. on Thursday. If you miss that offer, a preseason pass for all of Arsenal's remaining preseason fixtures is then available for £15 on the website. See at Arsenal
How to watch Arsenal vs. Villarreal online from anywhere using a VPN
If you're traveling abroad and want to keep up with all the soccer action while away from home, a VPN can help enhance your privacy and security when streaming.
It encrypts your traffic and prevents your internet service provider from throttling your speeds. It can also be helpful when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks while traveling, adding an extra layer of protection for your devices and logins. VPNs are legal in many countries, including the US and Canada, and can be used for legitimate purposes such as improving online privacy and security.
However, some streaming services may have policies restricting VPN use to access region-specific content. If you're considering a VPN for streaming, check the platform's terms of service to ensure compliance.
If you choose to use a VPN, follow the provider's installation instructions, ensuring you're connected securely and in compliance with applicable laws and service agreements. Some streaming platforms may block access when a VPN is detected, so verifying if your streaming subscription allows VPN use is crucial.
James Martin/CNET ExpressVPN Best VPN for streaming Price $13 per month, $100 for the first 15 months (then $117 per year) or $140 for the first 28 months (then $150 per year) Latest Tests No DNS leaks detected, 18% speed loss in 2025 tests Network 3,000 plus servers in 105 countries Jurisdiction British Virgin Islands ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN that works on a variety of devices. It's normally $13 a month, but if you sign up for an annual subscription for $100, you'll get three months free and save 49%. That's the equivalent of $6.67 a month. Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. 61% off with 2yr plan (+4 free months) See at ExpressVPN
Quick tips for streaming the preseason friendly soccer using a VPN