Good evening and thank you for joining Sports Mole for live text commentary of the friendly match between the New York Red Bulls and Arsenal at the Red Bull Arena.

We are just three weeks away from the start of the new Premier League season and Arsene Wenger will be hoping that his side are nearly ready for their opening day fixture against Crystal Palace. Tonight they visit America for the first time in 25 years to face the New York Red Bulls, where a very familiar face will be waiting for them...

NEW YORK XI: Robles, Duvall, Olave, Sekagya, Miller, Sam, Cahill, McCarty, Oyongo, Wright-Phillips, Henry

ARSENAL XI: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Hayden, Monreal, Gibbs, Arteta, Wilshere, Zelalem, Ramsey, Cazorla, Rosicky

So, there we have the teams. We'll begin with the home side, who have named Arsenal legend Thierry Henry in their starting lineup. He is not the only familiar name in the team, as Tim Cahill and the current MLS top-scorer Bradley Wright-Phillips also feature.

As for the Gunners, they are still missing many of their stars who were at the World Cup this summer, but there are plenty of big names on show. Mikel Arteta and Jack Wilshere start in the midfield, while Aaron Ramsey, Santi Cazorla and Tomas Rosicky will offer the attacking threat, with no recognised forward starting the match.

Of course any Arsenal fan will tell you how great it is to see Henry in the team today. The Frenchman is arguably the greatest player in the club's history and scored a record 228 goals for the club. At the age of 36 he may be coming to end of his career, but he is still producing the goods and has recorded the most assists in the MLS this season.

This will be Arsenal's second match of the pre-season, following last weekend's 2-0 victory over Boreham Wood. Coming up for them is the annual Emirates Cup next weekend where they will play Benfica and Monaco, before going head to head against Manchester City in the Community Shield.

New York are in the middle of their season and are currently fourth in the Eastern Conference of the MLS. They are well placed to make the playoffs and had they not been playing such high profile opponents this evening, then a few of their star names may have been rested.

Looking at that Arsenal lineup again, it is hard to see who will play through the middle. I would imagine that Ramsey or Cazorla will play as the false number nine, but it does highlight a lack of striking threat from the Gunners. Chuba Akpom is on the bench this evening and should get a run out at some point.

We have heard that due to police activity there have been delays for fans getting to the Red Bull Arena. Hopefully they'll have all made it in time for the kick off, which is just a few minutes away.

It looks like this game is going to start just slightly after our expected kick off time, with the players still not out on the pitch yet.

We have now seen pictures of the players entering the tunnel, with Henry making his way to the front as he leads New York out.

Here we go, the two teams are finally out on the pitch and the match should be starting in just a few moments.

KICKOFF! We are underway at the Red Bull Arena!

The Red Bulls have the first chance of the match when Henry wins a free kick down by the left hand touchline. However, it is not one of the striker's best free kicks, as he fires the ball high and wide of the goal.

It's Arsenal's turn to come close as Gibbs get in behind down the left and fires the ball across the box, with New York keeper Robles forced to beat the ball away.

CHANCE! It was so nearly the moment for Henry. He was slipped in behind down the left in acres of space and after breaking into the box, he looked to slot the ball into the bottom corner, but Szczesny managed to get a slight touch on the ball and tipped it wide for a corner.

CHANCE! Arsenal haven't seen too much of the ball in these early stages, but they break quickly and find Cazorla on the edge of the box. The Spaniard looks to bend an effort into the far corner, but his strike heads narrowly wide of the post.

CHANCE! New York have had two great opportunities and they should really be ahead. Henry does well to slide Wright-Phillips into the box, but the striker pulls his effort wide of the target with just Szczesny to beat.

It has been an entertaining start to this match, which is great to see in a pre-season friendly. There is acres of space for both teams to exploit, with Arsenal in particular looking slightly open at the back.

The Gunners are starting to get more a foothold in the match now and they manage a sustained spell of possession in the New York half. However, the hosts manage to keep them at bay and cut out the danger before their opponents can advance into their box.

Arsenal have been guilty of giving the ball away in the midfield, and their latest stray pass ends up at the feet of Wright-Phillips. He sees Henry running ahead of him, but his final ball is poor and is cut out before reaching the Frenchman.

Straight up the other end it's Arsenal who have a chance on goal, as Ramsey works himself some room just inside the box, before dragging an effort wide of the far post.

The pace of this match has settled slightly after such a frantic opening period. The hosts have made a good impression of themselves so far and at the midway point in this half they will probably feel unlucky not to be leading.

Good chance for the Red Bulls as Oyongo does well to get down the left hand side, before playing the ball into the middle. Miller is in the box and tries to direct the ball goalwards, but Arsenal get enough men back to clear.

Red Bulls are still looking the more likely to score in this match and Arsenal are yet to get their usual passing rhythm going.

The MLS side have taken the lead and it's a goal that has been coming. Henry whips a corner into the box, which is headed goalwards by Sekagya, before turned into the net from close range by Wright-Phillips.

Much of the talk has been about how much of an Arsenal legend Henry is, but tonight's scorer is the son of another one of the club's greats, Ian Wright, who scored 185 goals for the Gunners.

CHANCE! It's almost a wonderful goal for Arsenal. Wilshere plays a one-two with Zelalem on the edge of the box, before firing in a strike that is brilliantly saved by Robles.

Wilshere comes close again after Cazorla's free kick is headed out to him on the edge of the box. He takes the ball down on his chest, before drilling in a low drive that is well blocked by Cahill and goes just wide of the post.

We are going to have one minute of stoppage time at the end of the half.

YELLOW CARD! You don't usually see players getting booked in friendlies, but Cahill's strong challenge on Wilshere was enough to warrant a yellow from the referee.

The first half has come to an end and it is New York who are leading thanks to a close-range effort from Bradley Wright-Phillips. The hosts certainly deserve their lead, with the Gunners far from their best at the Red Bull Arena.

As it turns out, two players associated with Arsenal have combined to put New York into the lead. Wright-Phillips, the son of Ian Wright and Henry were involved, and they have been their team's best players this evening. Both had excellent chances to score early on, as the Gunners failed to cope with their threat.

This would be a great result for the Red Bulls and the MLS if it stayed the same, although Arsenal are missing a number of their best players. It remains to be seen what changes Arsene Wenger will make, but the likes of Abou Diaby and Mathieu Flamini are on the bench.

New York will also surely be making some changes, with Henry and Cahill not expected to last the 90 minutes due to their upcoming league fixtures.

The respect and love for Henry in the stadium tonight has been clear and I'm sure both sets of fans will be on their feet if the striker manages to find the back of the net in the second half.

I can tell you that Akpan will be coming on for New York in the second half, in place of the goalscorer Wright-Phillips.

New York take the kick off and the match is back underway.

New York take the kick off and the match is back underway.

There has been seven changes for Arsenal at half time, with Flamini, Diaby and Akpom among those who have come on.

CHANCE! One of the substitutes almost makes a big impact, as Diaby slips Cazorla into the box, with the Spaniard hammering in a strike that is pushed away by the keeper. The ball then ends up falling for Diaby on the edge of the box, but his strike is well held by the keeper.

It seems that Henry will only have a little while longer to get on the scoresheet, as he is set to come off shortly.

SUBSTITUTION: The crowd rise to give a standing ovation to Henry, who heads off to be replaced by his fellow countryman Luyindula.

GOAL DISALLOWED! Arsenal think that they have levelled the scores when Diaby is slipped into the box, before slotting the ball confidently past Robles, but the flag is correctly raised on the far side.

The Gunners have certainly seen more of the ball this half, but they are still yet to put the hosts under any considerable amount of pressure at the back. One of the positives has been the introduction of Diaby, who will desperately be hoping that his injury troubles have come to an end.

SUBSTITUTION: New York make a double change, with Miazga coming on for Sekagya and Bustamante replacing Cahill.

Arsenal have a good chance when they win a free kick on the left, which is whipped into the box by Cazorla. However, his delivery is poor and instead of picking out any of his teammates, the ball is easily collected by the keeper.

It's still not quite happening for Arsenal, as after a good spell of possession just outside their opponents' area, Coquelin tries his luck with a strike, but it is blocked by the defence and the ball is cleared to safety.

SUBSTITUTION: New York make another change, as Bover comes on for McCarty.

SUBSTITUTION: It's Arsenal's turn to change things around, as Toral comes on for Rosicky, and Olsson replaces Cazorla.

At the moment it doesn't look like Arsenal will be finding the back of the net anytime soon, and they are struggling to keep hold of the ball. Their opponents have also been poor going forward in this half, since the exit of Henry and Wright-Phillips.

On a rare Red Bulls break forward, Duvall shows great pace to burst down the right wing before cutting inside. He manages to get the ball onto his left foot before firing in a low effort that is deflected wide of the post.

SUBSTITUTION: That was Duvall's last piece of action, as Kimura is on to replace him.

CHANCE! Big, Big chance for Arsenal. Akpom manages to get onto a long ball over the top and finds himself clean through on goal. He drives into the box before getting his shot in on goal, but Robles does well to charge out and block his effort.

CHANCE! Arsenal should have scored moments ago, but now the Red Bulls squander a huge opening of their own. It's Luyindula who has the chance, as he is picked out in the middle, but he can only direct his header over the bar.

Arsenal are still pushing for the equalizer, but they have struggled without Giroud upfront this evening. The Frenchman adds another dimension to their attack and it is clear that his presence is sorely missed when he is not in the team.

Another neat passage of play from Arsenal in the opposition half ends when Gibbs, Flamini and Akpom try to combine with a number of short passes on the edge of the box, before giving the ball away. To their credit, the Red Bulls defence have done well and have been solid all evening.

We are going to have two minutes of stoppage time.

Arsenal win a free kick around 25 yards out from goal, which is taken by Olsson, but his effort is poor and goes well over the bar.

Well, the match comes to an end and it is New York who have run out winners this evening. A first half goal from Bradley Wright-Phillips has been enough to down the Gunners, who never looked like reaching their best form.

That's all we've got time for here this evening. We will be bringing you more of the latest pre-season action over the next few weeks as we build up to the new season. I hope you have enjoyed our coverage, until next time, goodbye!