Organised by Arsenal Supporters Club and sponsored by Emirates, the Dubai-based international airline, the Challenge will take place on Friday, 16th May 2008 at the Victor Tedesco Stadium, Hamrun.

Paul Shipwright from Arsenal Soccer Schools joined Arsenal’s Community Department in 2003. He is responsible for all partnered soccer schools in the U.K. and overseas. Currently, Paul manages 14 franchise partners in the UK and 12 overseas, who provide more than 20,000 young people with Arsenal coaching and a link with the Club. Paul also organises the annual ‘Arsenal International Soccer Festival’, an event which brings together 200 football teams from all over the world in competition. He is a UEFA qualified coach and a member of the Football Association Coaches Association.

Sports Development Officer Martin Davis began his association with Arsenal in the Community in 1994 as a 17 year old Youth Training Scheme Trainee. In 1996, he started working for the department and now spends a lot of his time coaching in England and overseas, including visits to Ukraine, Singapore, Portugal, Cyprus and Egypt amongst others.  He is currently managing the YTS Scheme and is responsible for the development of the young community coaches. He also has responsibility for the successful residential soccer school projects. Martin is the face of Arsenal’s ‘tricks ‘n ‘ flicks column in the Arsenal magazine, showing young readers how they can learn new skills and tricks.

The visit of Mr Shipwright and Mr Davis has been made possible through the initiative of the Arsenal Malta Supporters Club and they are guests of the Radisson SAS Bay Point Hotel in St. George’s Bay.

In 2004, Emirates signed the biggest sponsorship deal worth £100 million in football history with Arsenal FC. The agreement also included Emirates’ naming rights to Arsenal’s new £357 million, Emirates Stadium, for the following 15 years.