AS IT HAPPENED
The story of the new stadium banners
MAY 26th
IT’S UP. NOW IDENTIFY WHO’S WHO!
The hand-illustrated crowd scene features more than 700 supporters who have contributed to the club’s success, given so much to the community and followed us in every moment.
The piece – meticulously illustrated over 20 weeks by critically acclaimed artist Reuben Dangoor – will sit alongside the seven other pieces of art that were launched in January and now feature proudly on the outside of the stadium. While each piece of art has a different theme, they are unified in celebrating our rich history, community values and relentless pursuit of progress.
The name of the eighth artwork – Found a Place Where We Belong – is inspired by Dennis Bergkamp’s 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.”
The artwork features many supporters who have shown unwavering passion and commitment by attending more than 350 matches at Emirates Stadium since the club’s move in 2006. Our global Supporters’ Clubs each nominated a representative worthy of inclusion, iconic supporters from through the ages feature alongside those who have made an outstanding contribution to the community, while club staff past and present are also part of the rich tapestry of the Arsenal family. (From the Arsenal website)
MAY 24th
HOLD ON – DON’T WANT TO GIVE YOU FALSE HOPE!
May 23rd - NEARLY THERE!
Hang on a moment – who’s that on the right and how did he get in there?! And his eyes look really weird!
That said, wind willing, the final panels will go up tomorrow and we’ll all see who is in there and who is hidden behind the Emirates logo!
The club has announced the final panel is ready, and they produced a smaller-scale version to show to the players at London Colney. It’s on their website
Trouble is, it was too windy to install today and anyway, there was a problem with the crane needed for installation. So as of now, the new artwork looks like the old . . . .
March 27 - one more completed. Just the one to go!
Future Brilliance is inspired by Arsene Wenger’s quote: “Here you have the opportunity to get out the greatness that is in each of you.” The artwork reflects our commitment to providing opportunities for young players to develop and progress, with the players running into the flag on the left as young hopefuls and emerging as the fully-fledged legends that supporters know and love today.
Another of Reuben’s heroic scenes, iconic Islington architecture is the backdrop to this artwork which represents our north London landscape. It pays homage to our local community and sends a message to the thousands of young people with whom we regularly engage through a variety of community projects.
Lost count of how many days it's been, but March 23rd, action on one of the missing banners has begun!
Day 25 - February 11
Suppporters have a first chance to see the artwork
(Next post will be Day 27, February 13
Day 24 - February 10
Keep watching this space!
The workers have left so there's nothing yet to see on one panel - but plenty to look at on all the others when you come to Saturday's match.
Day 23 - February 9
'Come To See The Arsenal' is completed
With only one day before the weekend (and the next home match) and each banner takes two days, will the final one be up this week? Come back here tomorrow and see!!
Come To See The Arsenal is a bold, type-based design that celebrates our community roots and will be seen by passengers on southbound trains arriving into London passing Emirates Stadium. Taking inspiration from Highbury as ‘The Home of Football’, the bespoke typeface creates an impactful design and draws on a strong focus from the workshops to evoke our north London pride.
The typeface is a modified version of the new ‘Northbank’ font, which draws inspiration from the lettering on Highbury’s East Stand.
In keeping with the broader theme of Jeremy Deller’s trademark flag designs seen throughout the eight-piece collection, this artwork was made in conjunction with pre-eminent graphic designer and typographic treatment specialist, David Rudnick.
The process of creating Come To See The Arsenal also involved the unique skills of Britain’s most prolific banner maker and fellow Gooner, Ed Hall. Ed handmade the original artwork, which was then photographed in order to give the final design the authentic billowing flag effect.
Day 22 - February 8
Come To See The Arsenal
Day 21 - February 7
We All Follow The Arsenal is completed
We All Follow The Arsenal is a rich tapestry that represents the diversity of the Arsenal family and champions our local and global supporters from Islington to India and beyond. The artwork responds to a strong focus on the passion felt by our supporters everywhere and the deep connection they feel to the club, wherever they are in the world.
Featuring 150 official supporter groups spanning all continents, the artwork comprises 187 banners and flags in total. The physical banners were handmade and individually photographed to create the authentic, billowing flag effect.
Considering the iconography of football language, flags and banners have always played a major role throughout the club’s storied history, and this design is a reflection of the popular global supporter flags that hang inside Emirates Stadium.
The physical banners in this Jeremy Deller concept were also handmade and individually photographed to create this rich tapestry.
This artwork is positioned above Armoury Square where many supporters meet before matches.
Because of its shape and position (with posts in the way) it really needs to be seen in real life. Then see if you can find us and any other clubs you know of.
Day 20 - February 6
The first few supporters' clubs are up
Day 17 - February 3
Remember Who You Are is completed
This is the best one so far,' we heard people say. What do you think? And why not come and see for yourself?!
Remember Who You Are pays homage to the memories and history of our former home, Highbury. This stunning representation of the stadium’s East Stand – one of football’s architectural masterpieces – is firmly rooted in the club’s DNA, with special moments in time featuring some of our greatest players and managers included throughout the artwork.
The name of the piece recalls a quote passed down through generations of our players and is now synonymous with David Rocastle: “Remember who you are, what you are and who you represent.”
Highbury and the iconic quote were two of the most referenced elements in the first supporter workshop, highlighting to Reuben that something very special was required to pay tribute to the club’s former home. It was also fitting to honour the club’s historic legends by taking them home to Highbury.
That’s it for new pictures (most likely) until Monday. With three banners to go and only five working days next week, we might still be incomplete before Brentford.
Day 16 - February 2
Work begins on 'Remember Who You Are'
Day 15 - February 1
We said back on Day 3 that the vertical supports were missing on two of the sections..It looks like these were installed today. But nothing else - and the wind is getting up!
Day 14 - January 31
Eighteen Eighty-six
Eighteen Eighty-Six is a bold, type-based design that symbolises our founding year in Woolwich and courageous move to north London in 1913 in the constant pursuit of progress.
Redcurrant and graphic cues on the ‘Always Forward’ scroll are a subtle nod to Highbury, while retro elements within the artwork are inspired by historic Arsenal iconography, such as the ermine motifs which featured on our Victoria Concordia Crescit crest. The forward momentum of the scroll also represents our dynamic history, from the humble conception of the club to our current existence as a modern global brand, some 137 years later.
In many ways, Eighteen Eighty-Six is a partner piece to Come To See The Arsenal. Another signature Jeremy Deller artwork, it has also been made in conjunction with world-renowned graphic designer and typographic treatment specialist, David Rudnick. The graphic typography within the artwork was custom created by David, with the aim of taking a traditional typeface and adding a futuristic edge
Day 13 – January 30
Work on the east-facing artwork has begun
Day 10 - January 27
The cherry pickers are on a trailer, so nothing new this day.
Updates will continue on Monday - assuming the work does.
Day 9 - January 26
Victoria Concordia Crescit finished
Victoria Concordia Crescit tells the story of our iconic players who embody the spirit of the club. Drawing inspiration from the neoclassical style of French revolutionary paintings, the art celebrates our much-loved legends ready for battle alongside the famous cannons with flags emblazoned with the club’s motto: Victoria Concordia Crescit – Victory Through Harmony.
The cannons have been part of Arsenal’s identity since we were formed by workers at the Royal Arsenal Ordnance Factory in 1886, and Victoria Concordia Crescit has been the club motto since its very first season in north London in 1913/14.
Curated on the theme of ‘Icons and Role Models’ developed at the first supporter workshop, the intensity and drama of the artwork is accentuated by Reuben Dangoor’s unique style.
Day 8 - January 25
Second banner, Victoria Concordia Crescit, under way
Day 7 – January 24
The ‘Invincible’ banner is in place. One down, seven to go.
Invincible immortalises two of our greatest glories: the men’s invincible Premier League season of 2003/04 and the women’s Champions League winning team of 2006/07. Arsene Wenger’s team remain the only side to achieve this feat in the modern era, while Vic Akers’ Gunners are the only British team to lift Europe’s most prestigious club trophy.
‘Invincible’ is a term frequently associated with the legendary men’s team, but this striking artwork celebrates the remarkable invincibility of the women’s team in that 2006/07 season. The campaign brought a stunning quadruple, combining European glory with success in both domestic cups, and it was also the third of four successive unbeaten, title-winning seasons for the team, highlighting their complete domestic dominance as well as glory in Europe.
Men’s players included:
Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Vieira, Ray Parlour, Thierry Henry, Arsène Wenger, Robert Pires, Freddie Ljungberg, Sol Campbell, Gilberto, Kolo Toure, Lauren, Edu, Jens Lehmann, Ashley Cole
Women’s players included:
Anita Asante, Julie Fleeting, Lianne Sanderson, Alex Scott, Jayne Ludlow, Katie Chapman, Rachel Yankey, Mary Phillip, Ciara Grant, Kelly Smith, Vic Akers, Karen Carney, Emma Byrne, Faye White
Four women players with fewer European appearances are honoured by being engraved on the base of the trophy: Gemma Davison, Sian Larkin, Danielle Buet, Charlotte Gurr (above).
Nine players with fewer league appearances are also honoured by being engraved on the base of the trophy: Pascal Cygan, Sylvain Wiltord, Jose Antonio Reyes, Gael Clichy, Kanu, Martin Keown, Jeremie Aliadiere, David Bentley and Justin Hoyte (below).
Day 6 – the first banner -‘Invincible’ – is being installed
Days 4/5 – preparing for the Man Utd. game, so no change
Day 3 – January 20
The two shots below show what the work so far has been about, adding new supports for the new banners. To date, all have been installed except for two banners. So there’s work to do before we see what we’ve been waiting for. We’ll continue watching and waiting!
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Before/old -
New, installed for all but two banners
Day 2 – January 19
Day 1 – January 18
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READy, STEADY . . . NOT QUITE
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Fantastic, thanks for such a good essay
Amazing work. Stunning updates. Not sure if you have social media accountants. Will look them up and follow. But well done and good feeding us hungry overseas gooners
We have Facebook and Twitter (@AISA_Arsenal) and a rather underused Instagram. Mental note – add some of the pictures of the stadium artwork to Instagram! Plus we did do a sequence for TikTok on pulling into place one of the first pieces of the artwork banners but it wasn’t very interesting and the club has since filmed for a proper timelapse that will probably be better than we’ll have time to create. But then again . . . !