Arsenal vs AC Milan Time and Live Score: Emirates Cup 2010

Arsenal and AC Milan are going to face each other tomorrow (31 July at the Emirates Stadium in London in their opening match of the Emirates Cup 2010. Players of both sides are taking the match very seriously, even though it is nothing but a pre-season tournament.

Time

The match kicks off at 15:20 GMT and 16:20 local time (BST). Football fans in Italy can enjoy the match from 17:20. In the US, the match starts in New York time at 11:20 and in California time at 08:20.

Live Score

To get the live score of the match, visit the following link:

http://www.scorespro.com/soccer/

There are at least three reasons pre-season tournaments are very important for the participating teams. First of all, the young and fringe players get some game time to show their improvements and impress the managers to get more action next season.

Secondly, tournaments like Emirates Cup provide an opportunity to the managers to have a final look on their teams before the season kicks off. Managers can experiment with formation and players, and most importantly can understand if their teams need any reinforcement at a particular position to strengthen their squads.

Thirdly, pre-season tournaments provide the players with a very good ground where they can prepare for the next season.

Managers and players of both Arsenal and AC Milan would like to ensure the best use of Emirates Cup 2010. Two other teams in the tournament are Olympique Lyonnais and Celtic.

Organized by Arsenal, the tournament has been being held every year since its beginning in 2007. Home side Arsenal is the reigning champion and it is understandable that the Gunners would love to defend the title successfully.

The two-day tournament begins with the match between Celtic and Lyon on 31 July, while the tournament comes to an end with the match between Arsenal and Celtic. Arsenal would play the second game on the both days.

Arsenal and AC Milan both are two powerhouses of European Club football. They may not have won many titles over the last 4 or 5 years, but both teams have some highly qualified players.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger could be a bit worried as four of his key midfielders are missing the tournament. Captain and star midfielder Cesc Fabregas has not joined the pre-season training as he is now on holiday after winning the World Cup with Spain. Three other midfielders: Abou Diaby, Denilson and Alex Song- are currently injured out.

However, Wenger is hopeful about the availability of all four of them for the last pre-season friendly match against Legia Warsaw on 7 August. By then, the other World Cup star Robin van Persie would return to training, while striker Nicklas Bendtner is going to miss the start of the season as he needs two to three weeks to recover from his groin injury.

AC Milan is missing their Brazilian playmaker Ronaldinho as the 30-year-old has recently picked up a left hamstring problem. Though the injury is not very serious, he would require at least a week to come back in action- meaning he would not be part of Milan’s Emirates Cup mission.

Overall, it seems to be an enjoyable fixture with both sides having some particular goals to accomplish. As each goal would bring a point for the teams, both sides are expected to show some attacking display of football.

Arsenal vs AC Milan: A Tough Challenge for Wenger at Emirates Cup 2010

Emirates Cup 2010 begins on 31 July with the match between Celtic and Olympique Lyon. Host Arsenal would face AC Milan in their tournament opener on the same day. Arsenal fans are expecting a strong performance from Wenger boys against the Italian giants, but it seems the Gunners are going to face a tough challenge from Milan.

Arsenal is currently in Austria preparing for the next season and has won both of their friendly matches against the local clubs. However, AC Milan would be a much stronger opponent than SK Sturm Graz and SC Neusiedl 1919.

Emirates Cup may not be a highly significant tournament for the participating teams, but winning the tournament title would be a real confidence booster ahead of the new season. So, all of them would like to win the title. Arsenal fans would also love to see Wenger boys defending their title successfully.

However, the most important thing is that Arsenal would be without some of their key players including Cesc Fabregas and Robin Van Persie, both of whom would join the pre-season training on 5 August. Nicklas Bendtner is now sidelined with a groin injury that has already ruled him out for the start of the season.

Denilson and Abou Diaby could be available for the last pre-season friendly affair against Legia Warsaw on 7 August, but it is most likely they would miss the Emirates Cup. Defender Johan Djourou is uncertain after picking up a minor hamstring injury during Arsenal’s 4-0 win over Neusiedl.

Overall, Arsene Wenger is now left with a squad missing at least 4 or 5 regular players and he has to guide the Gunners in their pursuit of defending the Emirates Cup title. Arsenal’s second match in the tournament is against Celtic, but the opening encounter with AC Milan looks a crucial one for Wenger and his boys.