English Premier League heavyweights Arsenal have agreed to play Egyptian giants Zamalek as part of their centenary celebrations in June.

“Arsenal has officially agreed to play Zamalek in a friendly,” Zamalek board member Ahmed Sherin Fawzy was quoted as saying on one of Zamalek's fan sites.

Zamalek had initially approached Spanish side Real Madrid and Italian team AC Milan but were deterred by their financial demands. They are still in talks with Italian champions Inter Milan.

Inter Milan could receive one million euros for taking part in the commemorative match.

“The Arsenal friendly will not be the main match and I hope we host my favourite club, Manchester United,” Fawzy added.

The Egyptian Premier League leaders were set to hold their 100-year festivity some months ago, but the celebrations were postponed with the country in the grips of the January 25 Revolution.

Zamalek recently exited from the African Champions League after an embarrassing pitch invasion by some of their fans during their home match against Tunisian Club Africain in the round of 32.

The club's problems do not end there. They have been hit by a financial crisis, following the dismissal of former president Mamduh Abbas, who was a major source of the club’s funds. The financial issues forced the players to complain to the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) to demand their salaries last month before the problem was solved by club President Galal Ibrahim.

One of the oldest clubs in Egypt, Zamalek was established on 5 January 1911 and their football team has many fans around Africa and Arab world. They have won the Egyptian league title 11 times and the Egypt Cup on 21 occasions as well as holding five African Champions League trophies and many other championships.

Zamalek currently sit on top of the Egyptian Premier League, four points ahead of their arch rivals Ahly. Should they win the title this season, it will be their first since 2004.