:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49338625/GettyImages-482122664.0.jpg)
As the season is winding down to a trophyless end, Gooners start looking towards the next to fill our dreams full for victory and trophies. Well, those dreams are now a little darker:
The Emirates Cup will not be held this summer to due Euro 2016 and pitch renovation work: https://t.co/3NR5AU42gg pic.twitter.com/eDBc9Hkdy9
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) April 18, 2016
Well, that sucks. Held for the first time in 2007, Arsenal have won 4 of 9 Emirates Cups and has been looked to as both a pat on the back trophy as a enjoyable preseason event, giving us such exciting events as beating Wolfsburg, losing to Hamburg, actually seeing Lyon play football and, of course, JEFF.
But instead, the pitch needs a different sort of love. Starting shortly after Arsenal's final league match against Aston Villa on May 15th, the grounds crew will begin maintenance that will continue throughout the off-season to get The Emirates up to their standards (having won Grounds Team of the Year the past two seasons) in time for the start of the 2016-2017 season.
Instead, Arsenal's preseason will take them to the grand ol' US of A in July for two matches against MLS All-Stars in San Jose and Chivas de Guadalajara in Los Angeles. Other preseason games in Europe are being considered for prepare the team during a shortened break for them, due to the Euros in France. Until then, Arsenal look to a trophyless preseason as an inauspicious start to the next season.