Arsenal to postpone Emirates Cup until 2013

According to the official club site, Arsenal will not hold their traditional preseason tournament, the Emirates Cup, next summer, due to the 2012 Summer Olympics taking place in London. CEO Ivan Gazidis summed up the problems thusly:

Although we are disappointed that we cannot stage the Emirates Cup in 2012, we completely understand and accept the situation. Over 100,000 people have attended the Emirates Cup each year since we introduced the competition in 2007, and this would have only added to the demands on London’s infrastructure during the Olympics. Of course, we would have preferred the Emirates Cup to have been staged in 2012, but we completely respect the situation and like everyone, are fully supportive of, and looking forward to a successful London 2012 Olympic Games.

The cup was won last summer by New York Red Bull, who drew 1-1 with Arsenal in the tournament's final match which saw the return of Thierry Henry to his former club.