The Arsenal Brent Cross to open its doors

Arsenal Football Club will officially unveil its first flagship store in a major retail location, when The Arsenal Brent Cross is opened to the public on Friday, July 27.

Located in a traditional heartland of Arsenal support, the new store will be situated on the upper mall of Brent Cross Shopping Centre, adjacent to Fenwicks Department Store, and will stock the Club’s new Nike replica home and away kits (available from August 9) for 2012/13, as well as a range of Arsenal training and leisure wear and traditional merchandise.

To celebrate the opening, Gunners legend Martin Keown will be signing autographs for supporters throughout the morning and will be on hand from 10am to welcome the first customers through the door alongside Club mascot Gunnersaurus.

From 4.30pm, 250 invited fans will be attending a signing session with Jack Wilshere at the store.

The first 100 supporters to spend more than £20 in store, meanwhile, will receive a free exclusive Arsenal football and a 25 per cent voucher off their next purchase (valid for six months).

Customers heading into the new store will be able to see a host of exciting digital content on the in-store large screens and experience the thrill of a matchday by sitting in Arsène Wenger’s touchline chair and sampling the smell of freshly-cut Emirates Stadium turf.

Fans will also be able to take part in a special Twitter promotion on the day, to win a personalised 2012/13 away shirt, by tweeting a picture of themselves at the store to the official Arsenal account (@Arsenal) using the special hashtag #thearsenalbrentcross.

Nick Peel, retail director of Arsenal Football Club, said: “The Brent Cross development is an exciting addition to the Arsenal retail arm and further evidence of the Club expanding and investing further afield. The new store will help us to engage with a wider fanbase, while reducing our reliance on matchday traffic.

"Our aim was to create a destination which was fresh and innovative and which fans would find appealing and we are delighted with the outcome.”

Tom Nathan, Brent Cross general manager, added: "Brent Cross is thrilled to open Arsenal Football Club's first official flagship store in a major retail location. We have many Gunners supporters among our shoppers so they in particular will be able to combine two of their great passions - shopping and football - in a single visit. The store looks amazing with a unique design and a stunning array of merchandise that befits one of the biggest football clubs in the world.

"It's great that Martin Keown is helping to kick it all off and we know fans will enjoy meeting him when they are not snapping up offers and promotions which have been created for the launch.”