Saturday's Premier League clash with Southampton will focus on the Club’s Arsenal for Everyone initiative, which celebrates the diversity and equality of the Club and its fanbase.
The initiative also aims to coordinate a wide range of activities to encourage everybody connected with Arsenal - irrespective of race, age, religion and belief, sexual orientation, disability and gender - to feel an equal sense of belonging.
Saturday’s match falls within the 20th year of Kick It Out, the football equality and inclusion campaign, and a number of activities will be taking place to celebrate the initiative.
A cross-section of supporters will welcome players onto the pitch ahead of kick-off, lining up with a display of flags that represent the countries of the Arsenal squad.
The flag-bearers represent the Club’s diverse fanbase and include Purple members, participants in the Club’s mental health football sessions, and senior citizens, who are part of the bowls team that play regularly on estates and at Emirates Stadium with Arsenal in the Community.
Saturday’s matchday programme also features content from Arsenal people and supporters who speak about their connection to the Club. Take a look at the Final Word feature to find out more about the GayGooners, and read an interview with Arsenal Ladies’ Shelley Kerr, who talks about her childhood and how she got into the game as a youngster.
Representatives from Kick It Out and Stonewall have been invited to Saturday’s game as guests of the Club.
Speaking about the initiative, Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger said: "I am absolutely, 200 per cent behind Arsenal For Everyone and tolerance.
"Arsenal For Everyone is something fantastic. Diversity in the community can be great for everybody and I would urge everybody to show tolerance and acceptance. We are very happy to help people contribute to that.”
Arsenal for Everyone was launched in 2008. It formed a large part of the Club’s work in becoming the first professional football club to achieve the Advanced Level of Kick It Out’s Equality Standard, a framework devised for clubs to help with their equality and diversity practices.
For more information about the Club’s equality and diversity work, visit www.arsenal.com/community
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