Emirates Stadium To Be "Arsenalised"

Dean Nicholas
By Dean Nicholas Last edited 174 months ago
Emirates Stadium To Be "Arsenalised"

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Image / Jono Kenyon
Architecturally impressive as Arsenal's new stadium is, even the die-hard Gooner will admit it lacks the atmosphere of Highbury, a fact not helped by the club's failure to win a meaningful trophy of any sort since moving there in 2006. In an attempt to re-ignite the hushed awe of the 'Highbury Library', the club are cracking on with the "Arsenalisation" of their corporate-heavy new home: they're moving the famous clock inside, creating a shrine to honour every player to grace the club's colours (even Francis Jeffers), and are planning to erect eight huge murals of Arsenal legends. Any fan who's dreamt of Brady and Bergkamp lining up next to each other, or Thierry Henry patting Pat Rice on the back after a particularly adroit interception, will now get to see 32 of their heroes emblazoned on the outside of the stadium. A win for nostalgia, then, but won't it just give opposing teams succour to arrive at the ground, see these larger-than-life legends and realise that, rather than facing Tony Adams and Patrick Vieira in all their pomp, they're up against the likes of Phillipe Senderos and Abu Diaby?

Last Updated 02 September 2009