Gunner's Diary

Hey Junior Gunners, 

I hope you are well, here's my latest blog for you to read: 

Saturday, March 15, 2014
Today I went along to Boreham Wood for our Under-21s' League Cup semi-final against Reading. Unfortunately, we lost 3-1 after extra-time.

Sunday, March 16 2014
Tottenham 0-1 Arsenal
It's always great to put one over on your closest rivals and a great strike from Tomas Rosicky early in the game saw us beat our neighbours for the third time this season. What a fantastic feeling!

Monday, March 17, 2014
We had two big school groups with our community boys today so I was on hand to greet them as they were shown around the stadium on their tour.

Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Today I went along to Saffron Green Primary School in Hertsmere to meet years 4 and 5 to tell them all about the Arsenal Double Club where after school activities like reading, literacy, and languages are all intergrated with football. As well as having the assembly with years 4 and 5 I popped into all of the other classes to say hello.

When I got back to Emirates Stadium, I had just a short break before I was off to The University College of London in Islington to encourage students to sign up for Table Tennis coaching. I used to play a bit myself so I showed them what good eye to hand co-ordination I had.

Friday, March 21, 2014
The University College London Academy in Swiss Cottage was my venue today where seven local schools from year 5 were taking part in a sports festival. Some of the boys and girls were raising money for Sports Relief doing a cycle ride. Other sports being played included Handball. Back at the Emirates, groups of Primary school children were being taken around the stadium on tours so I surprised everyone by making an appearance.

Saturday, March 22, 2014
Chelsea 6-0 Arsenal
Apart from the result at Stamford Bridge which we will not go into any great detail, today was the 30th anniversary of the JG Membership scheme so Arsenal Football club were hosting a birthday party and screening of the Arsenal game at the same time.

JG's and their parents did not only watch the game but had an action-packed day showing off their football skills in the Indesit Urban Football area, creating birthday arts and crafts, playing birthday games and a half time raffle. All the JG's also got a great goodie bag at the end of the event.

Sunday, March 23, 2014
Jack a Junior Gunner was 11 today so I went along to his birthday party in Essex to meet him and some of his school friends. He had a football theme so they put me in goal. I also had to face a penalty shoot out. We then had Pizza and Cake.

Friday, March 28, 2014
Another trip to Swiss Cottage today to meet different schools taking part in the Camden Sports Festival. I had a go at dodge ball and as you can imagine being so big i got hit most of the time. We then had some pictures taken and hopefully they will make the local newspapers.

Saturday, March 29. 2014
Arsenal 1-1 Manchester City
There were a number of people around to see the players arrive including our Danish Supporters Club. After seeing the players in, it was off to pitchside for some pictures before meeting the fans around the stadium. Do any of you remember an ex-Arsenal player and Danish international called John Jensen, he was at the match today and I also ran into a couple of our injured players Laurent Koscielny and Jack Wilshere. We drew 1-1 with Mathieu Flamini scoring at the right end today. After the match I had a couple of visits to do in the Diamond Club and Box level.

Sunday, March 30, 2014
Today I was at the Hive as Arsenal Ladies took on Birmingham City Ladies in the second leg of their quarter-final Champions League tie. Birmingham ladies had already won the first leg 1-0 and on the day ran out 2-0 winners, to win 3-0 overall. Over 1,000 fans from both teams turned up, despite it being Mothers Day, so I met lots of old friends who can't always get to Emirates Stadium.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Today was a very special day for one lucky Arsenal Fan. I went Raglan Junior School to meet Oliver. Oliver had been picked from our membership of over 30,000 Junior Gunners to be mascot on FA Cup semi-final day against Wigan Athletic. The best thing about it was that Oliver didn't have any idea about was was going to happen. Here's how the story unfolded. Oliver's class were at the Swimming baths so I got myself into position when they arrived back for assembly. There were now over 200 of Oliver's friends as I ran into the hall to big cheers and high fives. The headmaster said we had a special announcement, then I produced a card to say Oliver please stand up you have benn selected to be mascot on Semi-final day. I then presented Oliver with his Ticket for the match and His shirt that he will be wearing on the day. The local press were there and and the Arsenal Photographer took lots of pictures.

Saturday, April 5, 2014
Our Annual event Be a Gunner be a Runner event took place at the stadium today. Junior Gunners of all ages and their parents plus the older Arsenal fans took part in running and some walking around the outside of the stadium. I did a lap of the stadium before running out of puff, so I waited by the finishing line to encourage all the runners to keep going.

Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Off to the training ground this morning with some junior Gunners and the whole of the Ball Squad to watch the players train. Mr Wenger came over to say a few words before the players started their session. After some lunch we met some of the injured players like Mesut Ozil, Jack Wilshere, Abou Diaby and Laurent Koscielny who signed autographs and posed for pictures.

Thursday, April 10, 2014
The Arsenal Roadshow started today, so I was off to St. Albans to visit Marlborough Science Academy where the Arsenal Soccer School was being held. There were lots of activities for the kids to get involved in such as skills, dribbling, shooting, plus a mini version of the Arsenal dressing room with the players' shirts hanging up for pictures to be taken. We also had lots of free gifts to give away like footballs, drinking beakers, sweat bands and lots more. I had a great time and met lots of new friends.

Friday, April 11, 2014
Today i went down to Chelmsford in Essex for the 2nd day of the Arsenal roadshow. We had all of the same activities taking place and lots of boys and girls with their mums and dads came along to take part.

Saturday 12th April 2014
Arsenal 1-1 Wigan Athletic
The day had finally arrived, cup semi-final day at Wembley. I arrived a couple of hours before kick-off and went off to the players' tunnel to see if I could find Oliver. He was there with other Arsenal and Wigan mascots so we had a big cuddle before I gave the players a high five as they came out for their warm-up. I then had my work cut out to see as many of our 50,000 fans as I could before kick-off. I was a tough task so if I missed some of you I am sorry. The game finished 1-1 with our BFG getting our equaliser. There were no more goals in extra-time so it all came down to penalties with our hero being Lukasz Fabianski who saved two of their penalties. We won 4-2 with all of our penalties being scored by Mikel, Kim, Olivier and Santi.

Monday, April 14, 2014
Back to the roadshow today which was now in Oxford. Another busy day with lots of boys and girls still their Easter Holidays.

Tuesday, April 15, 2014
The roadshow had now moved on to Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, so I had to be there for most of the day before returning to Emirates Stadium for tonight's league match against West Ham United. After a shaky start going 1-0 down, two goals from Lukas and a cracker from Olivier gave us the three points we need to keep ahead of Everton in the race for fourth spot in the league.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Today was my third visit to Pentonville Prison where our community department has a project with the inmates. We took along some games for the inmates' families and for the younger children some colouring pens and pictures of me to colour in.

Thursday, April 17, 2014
Our Youth team had their second leg of the Youth cup semi-final tonight at the Emirates stadium, and was also being shown live on ITV 4. We were already 2-1 down from the first leg and over 9,000 fans turned up to see if we could overturn the score. I was kept busy before kick-off looking after the fans from both clubs, and some of the younger chelsea fans gave me a rough time singing 'who are you?' In a hard-fought game we went down 1-0. losing overall 3-1.

Saturday, April 19, 2014
The roadshow finished today in Devon and I must say I have had a fantastic time and met so many people over the last 10 days. I can't wait for the next roadshow. If you missed it you must come along next time.

Sunday, April 20, 2014
Hull City 0-3 Arsenal
It was good to get one over on our cup final opponents today with a very convincing victory with yet another two goals from Poldi and it's great to see Aaron Ramsey not only back in the team but on the scoresheet as well. Let's hope we can have the same scoreline at Wembley in a few weeks.

That's all for now,
big hugs from Gunner