Everything you need to know about the upcoming Mind Series

Arsenal v Chelsea

Everything you need to know about the upcoming Mind Series

By Oscar Maung-Haley

Arsenal are putting their fierce local rivalries with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur to one side, as the three clubs come together as part of ‘The Mind Series’, in aid of mental health charity Mind.

The Mind Series will see the London-based sides take on one another in a series of pre-season friendlies, with Arsenal and Chelsea kicking off proceedings on Sunday (August 1) at the Emirates.

Arsenal Women are first up, taking on Chelsea Women (KO 12:15pm) before the men’s team face off against the European champions at 3pm.

Chelsea and Spurs will play the second game of the series on August 4, with the set of friendlies concluding with a pre-season North London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham four days later.

Mental health awareness is something that everyone at one point in their life has to deal with and often people don’t always know how to handle such a tough issue. Mind are a charity dedicated to helping people through such hard times.

Arsenal

As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, demand for services offered by charities like Mind have increased ten-fold, with the latest figures by the Office for National Statistics showing one in five adults experience symptoms of depression.

Prior to the pandemic, that number stood at one in ten, highlighting a massive increase in the need to raise awareness for mental health.

Alongside the ONS’ figures, Mind’s own survey of 16,000 people during the first lockdown found that two in three young people (68 per cent), and three in five adults (60 per cent), said their mental health had got worse.

The funds that are raised by the series will be divided between Mind and the respective club foundations, who work on local community projects to support those who are close to the club and the area.

And Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes that the series will help promote and further the important conversation around mental health awareness, as well as giving the Gunners a good pre-season test.

“As we take steps forward out of the pandemic, we’re happy to play in a series which promotes better mental health,” said Arteta.

“The last 18 months have been incredibly difficult and so many people - including many of our own fans - understandably need some extra support for their mental wellbeing.

“Of course, these pre-season games will provide our teams with excellent high-quality preparation ahead of next season, but also very importantly they will be raising funds and awareness for organisations, like Mind, who give their outstanding support to those who need it the most in difficult circumstances.”

Both fixtures on Sunday will be available on Arsenal.com for £7.99, with money being split between Mind and The Arsenal Foundation.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

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