Arsenal today confirmed the Emirates Cup line-up for this summer, a subject of some debate over the last few weeks. As rumoured, the sides visiting would be Porto, Napoli, and Galatasaray. A fairly high-profile line-up, and a controversial one.

Both Napoli and Galatasaray are known for their violent ultras, with reports of stabbings and racial abuse in the last few years. The main issue lies with Galatasaray, however.

Copenhagen

In 2000, when Arsenal lost the UEFA Cup final on penalties to Galatasaray, fans of the Turkish side stabbed three men to death. This came after a hostile match with clashes between both sets of fans. The deaths were blamed on Arsenal fans in an article by Piers Morgan, whose incorrect accusations led to three innocent men being banned for life from Arsenal. If you’re wondering why Mr Morgan is hated so much, that’s why.

Ever since there has been enmity between Galatasaray and Arsenal, though the sides have not faced each other since, to the relief of many. The decision to invite them to the summer family tournament has been met with extreme backlash. The Arsenal organisers have been labelled ‘clueless’, ‘stupid’ and ‘ignorant of history’ for their decision. While it’s certainly a risk to invite Galatasaray and what could be a small contingent of fans set on violence, can the hatred last forever?

London

The area around Arsenal’s ground has a large Turkish population, many of whom support Arsenal. Some support Galatasaray, others support Fenerbahce. While having even more rival fans is a risk, this could serve as a way to attract them as well as diffuse tensions. While a number of fans and families are planning to boycott the Cup, there won’t be any lack of demand for tickets.

Besides this, it’s not right to never embrace any chance of reconciliation. 20 years after the Heysel disaster, Liverpool invited Juventus to play a friendly, unveiling a mural reading ‘Friendship’ in Italian, and soothed two decades of ill feeling. What’s to say Arsenal aren’t trying to do the same? Diffuse a decade’s worth of anger and fear in the best way possible-via a friendly game of football? I can’t imagine Galatasaray’s higher-ups harbour any great grudge-they agreed to come and play. There will be warnings and statements beforehand to clarify the situation and warn against violence. This wasn’t a random selection.

Patience

Say what you like about Arsenal’s hierarchy, but they aren’t stupid. They didn’t invite Galatasaray to annoy Arsenal fans, or without thinking. There is a chance it could go wrong, but there’s always a risk with things like this. The teams selected will provide an exciting tournament, and if the supporters behave themselves there will be an excellent atmosphere.

I’d wait for Arsenal to give more information about the tournament before grabbing my pitchfork and demanding Ivan Gazidis’s head.

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