"[6] Details of the tournament were formally announced on 1 May 2007, with Italian champions Inter Milan, French side Paris Saint-Germain and German outfit Hamburg confirmed as participants.[8] Arsenal won the first tournament, having beaten their French opponents 2–1 and defeated Inter by the same scoreline, courtesy of a late strike by Robin van Persie .[12] New York Red Bulls, who were captained by former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry, won the Emirates Cup in 2011, after beating Paris Saint-Germain and drawing with the hosts.[14] The tournament did not take place in 2012 due to the ongoing Summer Olympics in London; it was believed that the capital's infrastructure was not able to cater for the extra 100,000 supporters that usually attend the two-day event.[15] When the Emirates Cup resumed in 2013, Turkish side Galatasaray earned nine points to finish top of the group,[16] and a year later Valencia became the first Spanish winners of the tournament as the hosts lost their decisive game against Monaco.
Arsenal won the inaugural Emirates Cup held in 2007.
Galatasaray was the first Turkish club to win the Emirates Cup.