Programme - Voice of Arsenal

4,000 UP!
Today's fixture is the Club's 4,000th league match. The Club's first league season was 1893/94 and Arsenal are now enjoying their 101st league campaign. The team has recorded 1,787 wins in that time, as opposed to 1,210 defeats. The team has scored 6,622 goals and conceded 5,148. The victory over Manchester City on Saturday was our 250th in Premiership history. The breakdown is as follows:

GOOD LUCK, EDDIE
Arsenal Reserve team coach Eddie Niedzwiecki has left Arsenal to join up with Mark Hughes at Blackburn Rovers. Eddie was part of Hughes' coaching team for the Welsh national team, and he will now be first team coach at Ewood Park. Eddie took over the Arsenal reserves in late 2000 following the tragic death of George Armstrong. He consistently produced excellent results with the second string, and guided them to a top six finish in each of his three full seasons in charge.

"Just like the young side I was taking in the reserves at Arsenal, I have always looked for progression," Eddie said. "I could have sat at Arsenal for the next five, six or seven years being lovely and comfortable. But I wanted to see if I could do it at the top level. Mark Hughes has always shown confidence in me and this is a big progression for me.  "Myself, Mark and Mark Bowen have worked together closely at national level for quite a while.  Having said that, it was still a massive wrench for me to leave Arsenal." Arsenal Football Club would like to thank Eddie for all his hard work at the Club, and wish him all the best at Ewood Park.

ADAM BIRCHALL'S LOAN EXTENDED
Arsenal have agreed to extend Adam Birchall's loan period at League Two side Wycombe Wanderers by a further month. The Wales Under 21s forward, who has netted twice for Tony Adams' team so far, is now expected back at Highbury on October 23.

PREDICT-A-KIT
Supporters may be aware that a special commemorative home kit, marking our final season at Highbury, is going to be worn by the team next season. The design has been chosen, but it's not going to be revealed for some time yet. We want young supporters to guess what the kit design will look like. Arsenal.com has a blank kit which you can print out and colour in and so does this month's Official Magazine. The young fan whose design is closest to that chosen will be invited down to Highbury for the official photocall next season, where they will sit with the first team squad in their new kit. You only have until the end of October to submit your designs, so don't delay!

HAVE YOUR PHOTO TAKEN WITH THE BARCLAYS PREMIERSHIP TROPHY AND COMMEMORATIVE TROPHY
To celebrate the Club's achievement of winning the Championship unbeaten we are delighted to offer supporters the opportunity to have their photograph taken with the Barclays Premiership Trophy, the new Commemorative Trophy and the Community Shield. The photo-shoots will take place at Highbury in the North Bank on the following half-term dates:

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21 through to SUNDAY, OCTOBER 31.

The photo-shoots run from 10am to 4.30pm and are priced at £12 for a standard background and £18 for a super-imposed background. To book your place call 020 7704 4500 or email photobookings@arsenal.co.uk

FLAGGING UP SUPPORT
Supporters group REDaction is urging fans to flag up support inside the stadium today and to help build matchday atmosphere, the following activities are taking place this afternoon:

Flags for a pound - REDaction has flags on sale outside the ground and these are intended to be used to create a visual spectacle inside the stadium. REDaction is appealing to fans to wave these today and help contribute to today's matchday atmosphere and then bring them back for another match.

North Bank Knees Up - For all those with tickets for the North Bank today, come along to the lower tier concourse from around 2pm onwards for another good sing song, with the airing of a few Arsenal classics, plus lots of modern favourites. Enter the stadium early to help build the atmosphere ahead of kick-off. So why not get involved?

ARSENAL LADIES PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Anita Asante will be presented with the Arsenal Ladies' Players' Player of the Year award at half-time this afternoon. Please show you appreciation for Anita, who gave several outstanding performances in the Ladies' double winning season last year, and has also impressed for the England Under-19s. Anita has signed for Arsenal Ladies again this season. She was due to go to the USA on a scholarship but was unable to take up the opportunity at the college in Miami. As much as it is very disappointing for Anita we hope she enjoys her comeback to Arsenal Ladies.

ARSENAL v CHELSEA - TWO GAME PACKAGE OFFER
Arsenal take on Chelsea on Sunday, December 12 at Highbury and we are pleased to announce additional availability for this highly sought after fixture.  Set within the informal setting of the Marquee inside Arsenal Stadium this package provides a perfect opportunity to see the two London clubs battle it out in their first clash of the season. The Chelsea Marquee package must be purchased with one of the following:

Man City - Tues, Jan 04 - Museum Package - £500 + vat pp (cost for both)
Newcastle - Sat, Jan 22 - Museum Package - £550 + vat pp (cost for both)
Tottenham - Sat, Apr 23 Museum Package - £550 + vat pp (cost for both)
Everton - Sat, Apr 05 Museum Package - £500 + vat pp (cost for both)

This deal is also available in conjunction with the Chelsea Museum package for an additional charge of £100 + VAT.  For full package details please visit www.arsenal.com/hospitality, contact the hospitality department on 020 7704 4550 or email hospitality@arsenal.co.uk. 

The Chelsea Marquee or Museum packages cannot be purchased solely and are available strictly to Arsenal fans only, any Chelsea fans will be refused entry on the day. Any packages already purchased for Arsenal v Chelsea cannot be exchanged for the above package.

MENCAP PRESENTATION
At half-time today a presentation will take place on the pitch for a group of adults from Barnet Mencap who took part in a penalty shoot out in the sports hall before today's game. The next monthly training session for adults with learning difficulties will take place at Arsenal on Sunday, October 17.

CARLING CUP DRAW
As supporters will probably be aware, Arsenal have been drawn away to Manchester City in the Third Round of the Carling Cup.
The match will take place at the City of Manchester Stadium on Wednesday, October 27 at 7.45pm. The game will be shown live on Sky Sports.

100TH PREMIERSHIP PLAYER
Robin van Persie's appearance at the City of Manchester Stadium last Saturday, albeit brief, made him the 100th different player the Club has used in Premiership history. The Dutch forward came on in the 88th minute for Dennis Bergkamp to make his league debut in the 1-0 win over Manchester City. Ray Parlour has played the most Premiership matches for Arsenal (333), while Thierry Henry is our leading scorer in the competition, netting 117. We have had 55 different Premiership scorers. The other 99 players are:

1992/93: David Seaman; Lee Dixon; Nigel Winterburn; David Hillier; Steve Bould;  Tony Adams; John Jensen; Alan Smith; Kevin Campbell; Paul Merson; Anders Limpar; Ian Wright; Jimmy Carter;  Perry Groves; Colin Pates; Ray Parlour; Steve Morrow; David O'Leary; Ian Selley; Andy Linighan; Mark Flatts;  Alan Miller; Pal Lydersen; Neil Heaney; Martin Keown; Paul Davis; Paul Dickov; Scott Marshall; Gavin McGowan.

1993/94: Eddie McGoldrick.

1994/95: Stefan Schwarz; Vince Bartram; Paul Shaw; Stephen Hughes; Adrian Clarke; John Hartson; Chris Kiwomya; Glenn Helder.

1995/96: Dennis Bergkamp; David Platt; Matthew Rose.

1996/97: John Lukic; Patrick Vieira; Remi Garde; Lee Harper; Nicolas Anelka.

1997/98: Gilles Grimandi; Emmanuel Petit; Marc Overmars; Luis Boa Morte; Alberto Mendez; Chris Wreh; Isiah Rankin; Matthew Upson;  Alex Manninger; Paolo Vernazza.

1998/99: Nelson Vivas; Freddie Ljungberg; Fabian Caballero; David Grondin;  Kaba Diawara; Kanu.

1999/2000: Silvinho; Thierry Henry; Oleg Luzhny; Davor Suker; Stefan Malz; Graham Barrett; Tommy Black; Rhys Weston; Ashley Cole; Brian McGovern; Julian Gray.

2000/2001: Lauren; Robert Pires; Sylvain Wiltord; Igors Stepanovs; Tomas Danilevicius; Edu.

2001/2002: Sol Campbell; Gio van Bronckhorst; Francis Jeffers; Richard Wright; Stuart Taylor; Jeremie Aliadiere.

2002/2003: Gilberto; Kolo Toure; Jermaine Pennant; Pascal Cygan; Rami Shaaban; Ryan Garry; Stathis Tavlaridis; Justin Hoyte.

2003/04: Jens Lehmann; Gael Clichy; Jose Antonio Reyes; David Bentley.

2004/05: Francesc Fabregas; Mathieu Flamini.

JOIN THE FANS' FORUM
At our most recent Supporters' Forum on September 18, it was decided by forum members that an extra person should be recruited to the Supporters' Forum to represent our red membership category of supporters. The successful applicant will join the forum as of November 2004 and will serve as a member until the end of season 2005/2006. Forums are held four times per season, usually in the Arsenal Museum prior to a match (although occasionally held after a match if it is an early kick-off). If you would like to stand for this position you must hold a current valid red membership.

Please apply in writing to

Elliot Roberts
Electoral Reform Services
33 Clarendon Road
London N8 0NW

Stating the following details:

Name, address, postcode, date of birth, contact telephone number, email address (if applicable) and red membership number. All applications should be received no later than Monday, October 18, after which Electoral Reform Services will carry out a random draw to determine the successful applicant. After a validity check has confirmed that the membership quoted is valid, the result of the draw will be published in the matchday programme and Arsenal.com on Saturday, October 30. Please note that the draw will be strictly limited to one application per person.

TEENAGE CANCER TRUST
Whilst you are sitting comfortably, hopefully enjoying another winning performance from the Gunners this afternoon, Arsenal fanatic Jon Baron (pictured) is embarking on a charity climb of Mount Kilimanjaro to help young people with cancer. Jon starts the climb today and is aiming to reach the 20,000ft summit at 6am on Thursday, October 7. The Teenage Cancer Trust (reg charity 1062559) builds and equips specialist units for teenagers with cancer. Where normally these teenagers are treated in a ward alongside toddlers or the elderly, in these units, they are treated beside their peers.

Being treated in a TCT unit and benefiting from the technical specialist care available, along with the support and company of people their own age, results in an estimated increase of about 20% in recovery rates. If you feel you would like to support John and help teenagers fight cancer, please send any donations to the Programme Editor at the usual Club address, cheques should be made payable to Teenage Cancer Trust. For more information please visit www.teencancer.org

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