Pre-season 2013

Now that the 2013/14 Premier League season is all but over, Arsenal fans' eyes will be turning to the summer break in 2013. While most Arsenal fans will be resting their tired souls, after yet another season of disappointment, it can be said that this summer will not be a quiet one for Arsenal.

Transfers will be a huge talking point. As soon as the final whistle is blown at the final game of the season, the transfer gossip will ensue. Every year, Arsenal are linked with several players in deals which most of the time don't ever take off. This year will be no exception. Despite Arsene being granted a transfer kitty of up to £70 million, his history of tentative, bargain-based transfers doesn't instill the greatest confidence in Arsenal fans. One would hope he uses that budget to its fullness, however. Arsenal need a replacement right-back, as it would appear Bacary Sagna is unfit for the cause, if not halfway out of the door, already. Also, some healthy competition for goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny would perhaps give provide the impetus he needs to up his game; it would appear Fabianski is far too injury-prone, and his track record isn't encouraging. I would say, however, that Wenger's biggest priority this summer has to be the purchase of a strong, holding-midfielder. Mikel Arteta has performed remarkably well, out of position, but it would appear his strengths lie in an attacking, more creative role.

In reality, Arsenal haven't replaced Gilberto Silva, one of Arsenal's greatest midfielders in the Wenger era. His ability to steward possession, organise the midfield and bully the opposition into submission was one of the reasons Arsenal went unbeaten for 49 Premiership matches. Alex Song never fulfilled his duties as a holding midfielder as he would never hold; his appetite for roaming constantly left the Arsenal defence in dire straits, and yet he was the one who failed to perform his job. Arsenal had previously been linked with Yann M'Vila, but Arsene denied such reports; consequently, M'Vila signed for Russian outfit Rubin Kazan, leaving that option closed now. One would hope Wenger's scouts have been keeping close tabs on similar talents, as Arsenal and Arteta are in real need of one.

Aside from transfers, the Emirates Cup will be making a return after being cancelled during last year's Olympic Games. Some of the rumoured teams to be involved alongside the Gunners include Napoli, Porto and, controversially, Galatasaray.

Arsenal fans of the older generations need no reminder of the atrocities that occurred in Copenhagen, before and after the 2000 UEFA Cup final. Violence across the city marred the showpiece event which Arsenal went on to lose on penalties. Reasons why such chaos erupted has been sketchy, although it has been cited that the stabbing of some Leeds United fans in the previous round by Galatasaray fans was a contributing factor. The Arsenal fans involved were apparently carrying out justice for such stabbings on behalf of English football; during the aftermath, the damage of the riot was clear: four stabbings, 11 injured and 54 arrests. A day of shame for both clubs. Those Arsenal and Galatasaray fans truly involved in the unpleasantness were rightfully punished.  In fact, it has been said that fans from several clubs in the UK were involved in the riots, as they sought to gain 'revenge', too.

For the organisers of the Emirates Cup, who are affiliated with Arsenal FC, to include Galatasaray in this year's tournament would be nothing short of scandalous. It seems like sheer folly to reignite such bad feeling amongst fans in what is supposed to be a low-key warm-up to the new season. It seems highly unlikely that Galatsaray fans would make a special trip all the way from Turkey to North London for this meaningless tournament, one would hope.

Piers Morgan admitting to the lies on Twitter to an Arsenal fan group

The fact is, however, that the riots left a deep burn on Arsenal fans, as several well-mannered, innocent supporters had their season tickets confiscated and were given lifetime bans from football arenas. Fans who, for the most part, played no role in the violence, and were unfortunate bystanders who were picked up by the cameras and were wrongly blamed in the press aftermath. The public furore was accentuated by the Daily Mirror, under the stewardship of editor and apparent Arsenal 'fan' Piers Morgan, and they campaigned for these fans to be imprisoned and banned from attending games for life. Based on lies and misinformation, Piers got his way. Arsenal fans continue to show resentment towards him and that unsavoury episode in the club's history. It was an act which Piers Morgan used as a way of gaining readership and support for his newspaper; he didn't care about the implications of his actions.

One can understand, therefore, the sheer ignorance of the organisers, should the reports be true, would cause more trouble than is ultimately worth. The Emirates Cup is a tournament where Arsenal and a few top world sides can stretch their legs and warm up for the new season. It often proves to be a relaxed atmosphere. Some fond memories have been made at this tournament; Henry's return, the visit of the Old Firm from Glasgow and the emergence of Jack Wilshere. One can be forgiven for thinking that, should Galatasaray be involved, the weekend will be spoilt by such vitriol and bad-feeling.

Maybe the reports were not accurate. I pray that they are not, because I don't want that weekend to be a disaster.