Patrick Vieira returning to Arsenal (26/4)

[gooner.ed]

usual thread starter... i think pre-season tournies will become a regular feature at the grove from here on. let's face it, they need the money. there was even a whisper that arsenal and barcelona considered staging a two-legged friendly on the CL quarter final midweeks this season to make up for lost revenue.

[Gooner Chris]

Sounds good to me

[Gooner Chris]

Arsenal.com have just announced it:

Arsenal Football Club is delighted to announce that Emirates Stadium will host a two-day pre-season tournament this summer featuring four of Europe’s leading clubs.

The competition, which has been named the Emirates Cup, will take place on Saturday 28th July and Sunday 29th July 2007, and joining the Gunners in this exciting tournament will be newly crowned Serie A champions Inter Milan, French giants Paris Saint-Germain and Bundesliga side Hamburg SV.

Two matches will be played on each day, with the kick-off times being at 2pm and 4.15pm, with one ticket giving fans access to both matches on that particular day. The Club is also pleased to announce that Arsenal members will receive exclusive first rights on purchasing tickets for this high profile tournament.

The four participating clubs boast many high profile international players who will feature over the two days. This will of course include ex-Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira, who now plays for Inter Milan. Gunners fans will also be familiar with the players from Hamburg, following the clubs’ recent meetings in the UEFA Champions League. While ex-Rangers manager Paul Le Guen will be keen to start the new season well at PSG, following his recent appointment as manager.

The tournament kicks-off at 2pm on Saturday 28th July, with Italian Champions Inter Milan taking on Hamburg, followed at 4.15pm with Arsenal playing French side PSG. Sunday’s fixtures start at 2pm with Hamburg playing PSG, with Arsenal and Inter bringing the competition to an exciting climax, kicking-off their match at 4.15pm on Sunday afternoon.

Teams will be awarded 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and will also earn 1 point for each goal they score in the competition. The winners will be presented with the inaugural Emirates Cup trophy after the second match on Sunday 29th July.

Arsenal Managing Director Keith Edelman said: “We are absolutely delighted to be hosting this high profile pre-season tournament featuring four of Europe’s most famous clubs. Following our success in staging two international friendlies for the Brazil national team this season, we are proud that Emirates Stadium is able to stage an event of this magnitude.

The Emirates Cup will not only give thousands of fans an early opportunity to experience some high quality football at Emirates Stadium, but will also provide all the teams with a very competitive level of pre-season preparation ahead of the 2007/08 season.â€

[Vic Crescit]

I'm disappointed with this Tournament.

We've played both Hamburger SV and Inter recently in the CL and PSG are hardly the biggest draw.

If I'm going to be attracted to this sort of event (and I only live 20 minutes from the ground in Islington) the club is going to have to try a lot harder with opposition I don't normally see.

Frankly with this line-up I wouldn't open my curtains if they were playing in the back yard. I'll be staying at home.

I'll be at Barnet as usual for the friendly. It's a good day out and social occasion. Also a painless way of putting a few quid in the bin of a club I've always had a soft spot for.

The Emirates Cup will have to try a lot harder to attract me. With at tickets starting at £25, and £40 for my own seat in the East Upper, and no two day discount it's wildly overpriced for a practice match, even two of them. A day at the cricket for me I think. Much better value.

Regards



Steven

[proudtosaythatname]

Emirates Stadium, Emirates Cup - anyone would think they sponsored us. We are the Arsenal...