Emirates Stadium played host to The Arsenal Foundation Ball on May 8, with the Club's annual charity fundraiser raising over £325,000.
Proceeds from the event will be used to help support even more projects in the UK and overseas that give young people a chance to thrive.
Hosted by popular comedian and Arsenal fan Dara O'Briain, and attended by Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal first-team squad and Foundation ambassadors including Robert Pires, Liam Brady and Martin Keown, the night proved to be a spectacular occasion, fusing fundraising and entertainment.
"Using the power of the Arsenal name, we are making a real difference to many young lives through a variety of projects"
Ivan Gazidis
The night got underway with the Arsenal manager welcoming guests before introducing a video highlighting the work of The Arsenal Foundation over the past year, which has seen the Club's charity continue to support a variety of charitable projects and good causes that make a difference both locally and globally.
A live and silent auction saw players and guests getting involved in some fierce bidding. Bacary Sagna was the winner of a personally-signed Robert Pires shirt from the 2002/03 season, while Wojciech Szczesny successfully bid for a private magic show. Aaron Ramsey bid successfully for a cookery class at Raymond Blanc's school in rural Oxfordshire.
Brit Award winners, Rudimental, then brought the room to its feet with an energetic performance which saw the Arsenal squad join the group on stage for the final two songs of the set. A number of players including Mikel Arteta, Thomas Vermaelen and Kieran Gibbs even tried their hand on the DJ decks under the expert tuition of the London four-piece.
To wrap up the evening, the Club launched an emergency appeal for Save the Children, the Foundation's global charity partner, which will enable children affected by the crisis in Syria to regain a sense of normality by providing temporary learning spaces to help them continue their education in a safe environment.
Arsène Wenger, together with the first-team squad, showed incredible generosity to donate £135,000 towards the appeal, bringing to an end an unforgettable evening.
Speaking about the event, Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis, said: “Tonight was another fantastic occasion recognising the incredible work that The Arsenal Foundation has achieved over the past 12 months. It highlights our commitment as a Club to giving young people a chance both on and off the pitch.
"Using the power of the Arsenal name, we are making a real difference to many young lives through a variety of projects, and this evening once again showed the incredible generosity of our guests, Arsène and the players."
For more information on The Arsenal Foundation, visit: www.arsenal.com/thearsenalfoundation or follow the charity on Twitter: @AFC_Foundation
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