As you’ve no doubt seen, last night Arsenal unveiled seven of the eight new claddings for the Emirates Stadium.
We’ve got all the images here at Arseblog News, and there’s a really nice section on the official site that gives a lot of details about the artwork. This project has emerged after a series of consultations with fans, club legends and, of course, the artists themselves.
Chief Executive Vinai Venkatesham said:
“This has been a fantastic project enabled by so many members of the Arsenal family here in Islington and around the world. We truly could not have brought this project to life without everyone working together and bringing their passion and dedication to this work.
“We started with a blank canvas in the hope of capturing and expressing our rich history, our values of community and progress and reflecting what Arsenal stands for in 2023 and beyond.”
And I think this is key. Arsenal spans generations. We have a wonderful history, and there are fans who have seen the club play and leave beautiful Highbury. We also have fans who have never known anything other than the Emirates, the stadium that opened in 2006. It sounds pretty recent, but it’s approaching 17 years now. Does that make you feel old?
Arsenal has changed. Soccer has changed. The world itself has changed. And I think what’s so well done about this new artwork is how it’s captured and rendered. The dual image of the Invincibles and the women’s team that won the Champions League is a great example. The growing interest in and support for Arsenal Women means that for generations to come, inclusion and visibility really matter.
But the story is also important. the foundations The things on which the club has been built and achieved over the years. The picture of Highbury’s East Stand with the various figures in the windows is so good. Bottom right, the famous back four with their hands up. Simply magnificent. Click to enlarge ????
The name of the piece “Remember who you are”, so associated with David Rocastle and the quote, “Remember who you are, what you are and who you represent”.
In all the pieces, the fine details are amazing, and when you look at how they’re going to fit into the stadium itself, the “big picture” so to speak is great too. Trains arriving in London and passing by will see this:
There’s one with flags from groups of supporters from around the world, an acknowledgment that while Arsenal is very much North London, it’s for everyone. It is too trite to say that football itself is global. I know firsthand how much Arsenal means to fans around the world. I’ve met them on my travels, and every time I’m at a game I talk to someone who has come from far away to support the team. That Arsenal is a club where everyone feels welcome, local or not, tells you a lot about the idea of togetherness and unity. It’s not just buzzwords, that’s the reality.
What struck me, reading the reaction online and in the comments on this site, is how enthusiastic and favorable the reaction has been. Art is by its very nature subjective, and when it comes to football teams we know it’s very hard to please everyone. Just look at what happens when new kits come out every year. Some love them, others hate them.
And while I’m sure there are some who don’t like what’s been produced, most of the reactions I’ve seen have been really positive. I think the club deserves a lot of credit for the way they have carried out this project, and what I like most about it is how different it is. I can’t think of another football stadium that looks like it. That’s brave, because there were probably easier and safer options when it comes down to it.
If you want to draw a parallel between that and some of the decisions the club has made in the past, far and near, that turned out to be successful, I think you can do that quite easily. It’s the Arsenal way, and as this stadium is our home, that’s the way it should be.
Work on the facility will begin very soon, so we look forward to seeing you up close and personal soon. There’s another one that wasn’t available, a ‘giant montage of fans from all decades’, and that should be interesting to watch as well.
For now though, a great start for everyone involved. The Arsenal ❤️.
