Emirates Cup
Arsenal celebrate with the trophy after winning the 2015 Emirates Cup. | |
Founded | 2007 |
---|---|
Number of teams | 4 |
Current champions | Arsenal (4th title) |
Most successful club(s) | Arsenal (4 titles) |
Website | Official homepage |
![]() |
The Emirates Cup is a pre-season association football invitational competition hosted by English club Arsenal at their home ground Emirates Stadium, in Holloway, London. The two-day competition was inaugurated in 2007, and is named after Arsenal's main sponsor Emirates.[1] It has been held every summer except 2012 due to the London Olympics, and 2016 because of pitch renovation work.
The competition follows a point scoring system much like the Amsterdam Tournament, whereby each team plays two matches, with three points awarded for a win, one point for a draw and none for a loss.[2] An additional point is awarded for every goal scored; this was scrapped in 2011,[3] but made a return from the 2013 edition.[4] From 2009, total shots on target throughout the tournament has been used as a tiebreaker if teams are tied on points, goal difference and goals scored.[5]
Arsenal won the inaugural tournament in 2007, and further wins followed in 2009, 2010, and most recently 2015. Four other sides have won the Emirates Cup: Hamburg in 2008, New York Red Bulls in 2011, Galatasaray in 2013 and Valencia in 2014. Paris Saint-Germain are the most regular guests, having been invited to compete in the tournament on three occasions; they have finished as runners-up twice. Four Italian clubs (Inter, Juventus, Milan and Napoli) have appeared in the tournament, more than any other nation.
History
Arsenal first announced their intention to stage a pre-season competition at their home ground, the Emirates Stadium, in March 2007. Managing director Keith Edelman revealed plans were at an exploratory stage, and added: "It would be in pre-season, around late July, and tickets would be reasonably priced. We feel it could be a really exciting event."[6] Details of the tournament were formally announced on 1 May 2007, with Italian champions Inter Milan, French side Paris Saint-Germain and German outfit Hamburg confirmed as participants.[7] Hamburg's qualification into the Intertoto Cup meant they withdrew from the competition; the club were subsequently replaced by Spain's Valencia.[8]

The inaugural Emirates Cup took place on 28 July and 29 July 2007 and was well attended with over 110,000 people filling the stadium across the two-day tournament.[9] Each club played two sides; Valencia and Arsenal did not face each other, and Inter did not play against Paris Saint-Germain.[8] Arsenal won the first tournament, having beaten their French opponents 2–1 and defeated Inter by the same scoreline, courtesy of a late Robin van Persie strike.[10] The following year Hamburg made an appearance alongside Real Madrid and Juventus,[11] and won the tournament as they finished two points clear of second-place Real.[12]
In 2009, Arsenal welcomed Atlético Madrid, Rangers and Paris Saint-Germain to the Emirates Cup.[13] The hosts regained the trophy winning both of their matches and scoring five goals; midfielder Jack Wilshere was twice named man of the match for his performances against Atlético Madrid and Rangers.[12] Arsenal retained the Emirates Cup in 2010, but failed to top the table in the next three tournaments.[12] New York Red Bulls, who were captained by former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry, won the Emirates Cup in 2011, after beating Paris Saint-Germain and drawing with the hosts.[14] The tournament did not take place in 2012 due to the ongoing Summer Olympics in London; it was believed that the capital's infrastructure was not able to cater for the extra 100,000 supporters that usually attend the two-day event.[15] When the Emirates Cup resumed in 2013, Turkish side Galatasaray earned nine points to finish top of the group,[16] and a year later Valencia became the first Spanish winners of the tournament as the hosts lost their decisive game against Monaco.[17]
Arsenal claimed their fourth Emirates Cup in 2015;[18] the competition was held on the final weekend of July.[19] The hosts scored seven goals in the tournament – six against Olympique Lyonnais, who later became the first team in the competition's history not to score a goal in either of their matches.[20] Due to the extended schedule of UEFA Euro 2016 and essential pitch reconstruction works at the Emirates Stadium, the Emirates Cup will not take place in the pre-season period of the 2016–17 season.[21]
Tournaments

Edition | Year | Winner | Runner-up | Third | Fourth | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2007 | Arsenal | Paris Saint-Germain | Valencia | Inter Milan | [22] |
2 | 2008 | Hamburg | Real Madrid | Arsenal | Juventus | [23] |
3 | 2009 | Arsenal | Rangers | Atlético Madrid | Paris Saint-Germain | [24] |
4 | 2010 | Arsenal | Lyon | Celtic | Milan | [25] |
5 | 2011 | New York Red Bulls | Paris Saint-Germain | Arsenal | Boca Juniors | [26] |
6 | 2013 | Galatasaray | Porto | Arsenal | Napoli | [27] |
7 | 2014 | Valencia | Arsenal | Monaco | Benfica | [28] |
8 | 2015 | Arsenal | Villarreal | Wolfsburg | Lyon | [29] |
Performance by team



Team | Winner | Runner-up | Third | Fourth | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arsenal | 4 | 1 | 3 | & —
|
8 |
Valencia | 1 | & —
|
1 | & —
|
2 |
Hamburg | 1 | & —
|
& —
|
& —
|
1 |
New York Red Bulls | 1 | & —
|
& —
|
& —
|
1 |
Galatasaray | 1 | & —
|
& —
|
& —
|
1 |
Paris Saint-Germain | & —
|
2 | & —
|
1 | 3 |
Lyon | & —
|
1 | & —
|
1 | 2 |
Real Madrid | & —
|
1 | & —
|
& —
|
1 |
Rangers | & —
|
1 | & —
|
& —
|
1 |
Porto | & —
|
1 | & —
|
& —
|
1 |
Villarreal | & —
|
1 | & —
|
& —
|
1 |
Atlético Madrid | & —
|
& —
|
1 | & —
|
1 |
Celtic | & —
|
& —
|
1 | & —
|
1 |
Monaco | & —
|
& —
|
1 | & —
|
1 |
Wolfsburg | & —
|
& —
|
1 | & —
|
1 |
Inter Milan | & —
|
& —
|
& —
|
1 | 1 |
Juventus | & —
|
& —
|
& —
|
1 | 1 |
Milan | & —
|
& —
|
& —
|
1 | 1 |
Boca Juniors | & —
|
& —
|
& —
|
1 | 1 |
Napoli | & —
|
& —
|
& —
|
1 | 1 |
Benfica | & —
|
& —
|
& —
|
1 | 1 |
See also
References
- ↑ "The Emirates Cup". Emirates. Archived from the original on 5 April 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ "Emirates Cup – Competition rules & regulations". Arsenal F.C. 27 July 2007. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ "Emirates Cup 2011 – Rules and Regulations". Arsenal F.C. 29 July 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ "Emirates Cup returns for summer 2013". Arsenal F.C. 15 May 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ "Wenger – Goals galore at the Emirates Cup". Arsenal F.C. 28 July 2009. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ Clarke, Richard (29 March 2007). "Pre-season tournament planned for Emirates". Arsenal F.C. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ "Emirates Stadium to host pre-season tournament". Arsenal F.C. 1 May 2007. Archived from the original on 3 May 2007. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
- 1 2 "Valencia replace Hamburg at Emirates Cup". Arsenal F.C. 11 June 2007. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ "Emirates Cup brings out the big guns". Emirates. 21 April 2008. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ Clarke, Richard (29 July 2007). "Emirates Cup: Arsenal 2–1 Inter Milan". Arsenal F.C. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ "European giants lined up for Emirates Cup". Arsenal F.C. 7 April 2008. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- 1 2 3 "History of the Emirates Cup". Arsenal F.C. 22 July 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ "Emirates Cup 2009 – Teams confirmed". Arsenal F.C. 8 May 2009. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ Prince-Wright, Joe (31 July 2011). "Recap: Henry, New York tie Arsenal, take Emirates Cup". New York Red Bulls. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ "Emirates Cup is postponed until 2013". Arsenal F.C. 6 December 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ Clarke, Richard (4 August 2013). "Arsenal 1–2 Galatasaray". Arsenal F.C. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ "Arsenal beaten 1–0 by Monaco as Valencia win the Emirates Cup". BBC Sport. 3 August 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ "Arsenal defeat Wolfsburg to secure the Emirates Cup". BBC Sport. 26 July 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ "Emirates Cup 2015 line up confirmed". Arsenal F.C. 18 May 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ Ciullini, Pablo; Saaid, Hamdan (10 September 2015). "Emirates Cup". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Retrieved 18 June 2016. Note: Compare goals conceded in the 2015 final standings table with other tournaments.
- ↑ "No Arsenal Emirates Cup this summer". Arsenal F.C. 18 April 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ Saaid, Hamdan (10 September 2015). "Emirates Cup 2007". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ Saaid, Hamdan (10 September 2015). "Emirates Cup 2008". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ Ciullini, Pablo (10 September 2015). "Emirates Cup 2009". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ Ciullini, Pablo (10 September 2015). "Emirates Cup 2010". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ Ciullini, Pablo (10 September 2015). "Emirates Cup 2011". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ Ciullini, Pablo (10 September 2015). "Emirates Cup 2013". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ Ciullini, Pablo (10 September 2015). "Emirates Cup 2014". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ Ciullini, Pablo (10 September 2015). "Emirates Cup 2015". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ↑ Hytner, David (3 August 2013). "Arsenal turn boos to cheers after coming back to draw with Napoli". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
External links
![]() |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Emirates Cup. |