The wait for changes to Emirates Stadium is now over!
After much deliberation and hard work which included the process of months of planning and several workshops conducted for the Gooners to contribute to how their stadium should look, Arsenal have revealed the new designs for the changes made in their 60,704 capacity home.
The project began in April last year and the Gooners participate in large numbers in workshops which included Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller, critically acclaimed artist Reuben Dangoor, and graphic designer David Rudnick. The aim was to shine a light on Arsenal’s glorious past coupled with its standing in the footballing community that we witness in 2023 today. Arsenal CEO Vinai Venkatesham commented during this event saying,
“This has been a fantastic project enabled by so many of the Arsenal family here in Islington and across the world. We started with a blank canvas with the hope of capturing and expressing our rich history, our values of community and progress and reflect what Arsenal stands for in 2023 and beyond. The project has brought together our supporters, community, legends and staff as one. It’s a real celebration of the Arsenal community, designed for and by the Arsenal family.”
Revealing our new Emirates Stadium artwork.
Created by the Arsenal family.
🔗 https://t.co/QBWqoDSLlc pic.twitter.com/B90oR84tgL
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 11, 2023
A total of eight designs are made, with each of the designs have a very specific story behind them:
VICTORIA CONCORDIA CRESCIT
This design represents the story of Arsenal Football Club’s most iconic players who embody the spirit of this club.
Ian Wright, David Rocastle, Tony Adams and Eddie Hapgood who have been multiple league and cup winners feature on the design while Marieanne Spacey and Jayne Ludlow represent the women’s first team in addition to Alex Scott who was the part of only English UEFA Champions League winner side also appears in the design among the 12 players.
It depicts the legends ready for battle alongside the famous cannons, which have been part of the club’s identity since it was formed by workers at the Royal Arsenal Ordnance Factory in 1886. The flags engraved with Arsenal’s Latin motto Victoria Concordia Crescit alongside its English meaning, Victory through Harmony are also present.
REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE
This art design should be the most liked one by the Gooners as it takes us back in memory lane to their previous home The Highbury, the club’s former home, which Arsenal left for the Emirates in 2006.
The design represents Highbury’s iconic East Stand and shows Gunners’ some of the most greatest ever players and managers included throughout the artwork.
We Arsenal’s greatest ever manager Arsene Wenger in the pose of the famous league win at bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur’s home White Hart Lane in 2004. We see Ian Wright, Thierry Henry, Lee Dixon, Tony Adams, Steve Bould and Nigel Winterburn alongside Kenny Sansom, Ted Drake, Cliff Bastin and legendary figures such as David Danskin, Herbert Chapman, George Graham, Alex James and Ken Friar.
THE INVINCIBLES
How can these art designs be completed without depicting one of Arsenal and English football’s greatest achievements, The Invincibles.
Plus, the women’s team Champions League winning side of 2006-07. Vic Akers who spearheaded a revolution at the club remains the only English side to win Europe’s biggest prize while winning both domestic cup competitions and going through their league campaign without tasting defeat.
The main pictures on the artwork show the two managers alongside 13 players and those missing out in pictures have their names inscribed on the trophies which include names like Kanu and Jose Antonio Reyes.
COME TO SEE THE ARSENAL
During the workshops conducted by the club, the fans expressed that they would like to see their pride in being North Londoners being represented very well in these designs. So keeping in mind those suggestions, this design was created and will be positioned such that train passengers coming from the north will be able to see it as they pass the stadium on their way into London.
It takes inspiration from the message displayed at Highbury as ‘The Home of Football’ and in a similar manner, ‘Welcome to North London’ and ‘The Home of Arsenal’ were created.
1886
The year 1886 is important for Arsenal as the club was founded in this year in the month of October. The design represents Arsenal’s continuous drive for progression from the founding year to the present times. It includes a banner with the words ‘Always Forward’.
The banner is in red and has two other elements in its artwork such as the ermine motifs which featured on Arsenal’s ‘Victoria Concordia Crescit’ crest.
WE ALL FOLLOW THE ARSENAL
This banner is sure to be very popular as it contains over 150 flags and banners from supporters groups from around the world. It will sure to bring a sense of unity among every fan that no matter what country or race you might belong to we all are one and equal as the fans of this club.
It’s a beautiful design which 187 banners in total and they have been individually photographed to create a ‘billowing flag’ effect.
FUTURE BRILLIANCE
This artwork takes inspiration from Arsene Wenger’s quote: “Here you have the opportunity to get out the greatness that is in each of you.” It celebrates Arsenal’s long-standing tradition of developing players from their own academy and helps them nurture a path to the first team.
It shows some of the club’s former stars running into the flag as young hopefuls on the left and emerging as fully-fledged legends on the right. Players like Charlie George, Jack Wilshere, David O’Leary, Liam Brady, Lianne Sanderson and Kelly Smith all feature here and Jack Wilshere who has now started his career as a coach in Arsenal’s U-18s also commented on the artwork saying,
“To be part of the artwork is really humbling and a big honour for me personally. It shows our commitment to developing young players and is a signal to them about seizing opportunities here. That’s a really important message for our young players but also for young people in our community.”
FOUND A PLACE WHERE WE BELONG
This art piece is not completed yet but once done it will bring together 721 Arsenal supporters. Dennis Bergkamp’s famous quote, “When you start supporting a football club, you don’t support it because of the trophies, or a player, or history – you support it because you found yourself somewhere there; found a place where you belong.” is the main inspiration behind it.
These fans who have been selected to feature in this artwork were picked for their dedication, their community work or the number of games they have attended. Flags and banners which made by bare hands in Woolwich feature chants that have been sung by Arsenal supporters over the years will be woven into the artwork.
