Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger feels that the Emirates Cup is a vital part of their pre-season preparations, giving the players the chance to reunite with the fans and their team-mates.
The Emirates Stadium is set to hold the eighth edition of the two-day competition this weekend, with the hosts taking on French side Lyon on Saturday followed by a match against German side Wolfsburg on Sunday.
The veteran manager, who has been part of the tournament since its inauguration in 2007, feels that it can be a nice way to build up for the new season.
The French manager also believes playing in front of a packed Emirates Stadium before the season is only a good thing.
Moreover, with the international players coming back so late, the veteran manager feels that the Emirates Cup could prove to be a nice opportunity for them to become match fit.
relatedNewsStory
“Personally I love the Emirates Cup because it’s competitive without having too much pressure on the games”, Wenger told his club's official website.
“It’s the first time that we reunite with our fans in our local stadium and I find that great. It’s always a sell-out, and gives opportunities to people who usually cannot come to watch the team.
“It is vital for preparation. The international players came back quite late on July 11, so when you think that they have less than four weeks to prepare for the first Premier League game, it’s very short.
“The Emirates Cup on a preparation front is very important.”
