Arsenal players surprise students

A group of hardworking pupils from Colvestone primary school in Hackney recently earned a special visit to our training centre in London Colney.
 
The pupils have been regular participants in the Arsenal Double Club scheme this year.

The visit to our training ground was a reward for their efforts and achievements over the year, which included writing a persuasive letter to manager Arsène Wenger asking him if they could visit the training ground.
 
Arsenal in the Community staged a Double Club session for the selected pupils just before the end of the season.

Unbeknown to the pupils, they had an extra surprise as Kieran Gibbs, David Ospina, Lucas Perez, Jeff Reine-Adelaide and Mathieu Debuchy all joined their Double Club session.
 
Teaching assistant at Colvestone Primary School, Joshua Suckram, said: “It was truly amazing and inspiring for the kids, they are still buzzing from it and showing off all their signed memorabilia.”
 
Double Club manager, Jack McNicholl said: "These particular children have been working hard this year and when we asked them to write a persuasive letter to Arsene Wenger we were impressed with their letters and we felt that they deserved a reward for their achievements.

"For them, to have our support every week, and to then have the players show interest in their work, it shows that Arsenal cares about their education and that is really important."
 
Inspired by the ‘double’ winning season of 1998, the Double Club is an innovative education programme which combines football and learning.
 
Mirroring the two halves of a game of football, the programme combines a 45-minute classroom session, in which Arsenal-related educational resources are used, with a 45-minute football coaching session in the playground. The resources are aimed at reluctant learners and those in need of a boost to their studies.