Emirates Airlines reaffirm Arsenal backing

The Dubai-based company hold both the naming rights to Arsenal's stadium and are also shirt sponsors, as well as being a major partner of FIFA at the World Cup.

The Gunners agreed their £100million, 15-year package in 2004.

However, it has been reported the Barclays Premier League club were looking to renegotiate the shirt deal, which still has five seasons to run, to bring them in line with other leading sides like Manchester United.

Airline profits have been hit by a drop in demand as well as higher fuel prices.

Emirates, though, will continue to support their chosen partners.

Chairman and chief executive of the Emirates Airline & Group, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, told www.SportsFeatures.com: "We invest around one per cent of Emirates' total revenue on sponsorship, promotions, events and media relations.

"We committed to spend more than 200million US dollars (£125million) from 2007 till 2014 when we signed up as an official partner with FIFA. This is a long-term investment."

Sheikh Al-Maktoum added: "Emirates has always had a close affinity with football from the early days of sponsorship and support of a number UAE-based teams and events through to the major clubs, tournaments and governing bodies that we partner with today."

Arsenal may not have won a trophy since the 2005 FA Cup, but their global brand makes the Gunners a sound investment, according to manager of group sponsorships at Emirates, Stuart Priestley.

"You can engage with 60,000 people at the stadium and collectively a lot more," Priestley said.

"We want to work with Arsenal and see how we can look after each other as best we can.

"I travel the world through my job and I can watch Arsenal wherever I am.

"The Emirates Stadium name always comes out.

"When you have a team like Arsenal, the way they play is very stylish, it's a great mix for us. Everything about the relationship is very good."