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Revealed: How Arsenal's new Emirates Stadium will look

Charles Watts
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Arsenal new Emirates Stadium art
The new designs that will adorn the Gunners' north London home have finally been unveiled...

The wait is finally over.

After months of planning and several workshops with fans to get their views, Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium will soon have a brand new look.

Eight new designs will adorn the outside of the club’s north London home, with the artwork officially unveiled at a launch event on Wednesday night.

“This has been a fantastic project enabled by so many of the Arsenal family here in Islington and across the world,” said Arsenal CEO Vinai Venkatesham.

“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.”

The project began in April last year and included a wide range of Arsenal supporters who took part in workshops alongside Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller, critically acclaimed artist Reuben Dangoor, and graphic designer David Rudnick.

Together, they have created eight pieces of art that the club hopes will shine a light on its heritage, its culture and the community it now represents in 2023.

Below, GOAL talks you through the designs and the stories behind them...

Editors' Picks

  1. Victoria Concordia Crescit 

    Victoria Concordia Crescit 

    This design tells the story of some of Arsenal’s iconic former players who embody the spirit of the club.

    The likes of Ian Wright, David Rocastle, Tony Adams and Eddie Hapgood all feature, as do Marieanne Spacey, Alex Scott and Jayne Ludlow.

    It shows 12 Arsenal 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.

    Flags emblazoned with Arsenal’s Latin motto Victoria Concordia Crescit and its English meaning, Victory through Harmony, also feature.

  2. Remember Who You Are 

    Remember Who You Are 

    This piece of art promises to be one of the most popular of the lot.

    It pays homage to Highbury, the club’s former home, which Arsenal left for the Emirates in 2006.

    The design is of Highbury’s iconic East Stand and has some of the Gunners' greatest ever players and managers included throughout the artwork.

    Arsene Wenger is there, captured doing his famous pose following the title win at White Hart Lane in 2004. You can see Ian Wright and Thierry Henry, as well as the famous back four of Lee Dixon, Tony Adams, Steve Bould and Nigel Winterburn – all of whom are captured in their iconic offside pose.

    Kenny Sansom is included, as are Ted Drake, Cliff Bastin and legendary figures such as David Danskin, Herbert Chapman, George Graham, Alex James and Ken Friar.

  4. Invincible 

    Invincible 

    This piece celebrates two of Arsenal’s greatest ever successes.

    On one side, it immortalises the men’s Premier League title winning side of 2003-04, when they went through the entire league season unbeaten, while on the other it shows the women’s Champions League-winning team of 2006-07.

    The latter side, managed by Vic Akers, remains the only British team ever to lift Europe’s most prestigious club trophy and they did it 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. Other players who featured in those seasons – such as Kanu and Jose Antonio Reyes – have their names inscribed on the trophies.

  5. Come To See The Arsenal 

    Come To See The Arsenal 

    This type-based design will be positioned so 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 Highbury as ‘The Home of Football’ and features the messages ‘Welcome to North London’ and ‘The Home of Arsenal’.

    The design centres around evoking pride in north London, something that was called for during the workshops that were held with supporters during the planning stage.

  7. 1886

    1886

    This design is supposed to symbolise Arsenal’s pursuit of progress through from the club’s founding year of 1886 to the present day.

    It includes a banner with the words ‘Always Forward’.

    The banner is in redcurrant, which is a nod to Highbury and there are other retro elements within the artwork, such as the ermine motifs which featured on Arsenal’s ‘Victoria Concordia Crescit’ crest.

  8. We All Follow The Arsenal

    We All Follow The Arsenal

    This is sure to be a very popular design as it features over 150 flags and banners from supporters groups from around the world.

    The tapestry artwork showcases 187 banners in total and they have been individually photographed to create a ‘billowing flag’ effect.

  9. Future Brilliance

    Future Brilliance

    This has been inspired by Arsene Wenger’s quote: “Here you have the opportunity to get out the greatness that is in each of you.” 

    The design celebrates the club’s history of developing its own, showing some of the club’s former stars running into the flag as young hopefuls on the left and emerging as the fully fledged legends on the right.

    Players featured include Charlie George, Jack Wilshere, David O’Leary, Liam Brady, Lianne Sanderson and Kelly Smith.

    “To be part of the artwork is really humbling and a big honour for me personally,” said Wilshere. “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.”

  10. Found a Place Where We Belong

    Once completed, this will be a design that brings together 721 Arsenal supporters.

    It has been 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 fans who feature on the artwork have been selected for various reasons, such as their community work or the number of games they have attended.

    Bespoke flags and banners, which were handmade in Woolwich, featuring chants that have been sung by Arsenal supporters over the years will be woven into the artwork.