Feature

Take a closer look at our eight stadium artworks

A closer look at the Victoria Concordia Crescit artwork

Last night saw the launch of the eight new pieces of art that will adorn Emirates Stadium, giving a fresh look to our home.

The new designs were the culmination of a near-year-long consultation between artists, supporters, club staff and legends to help identify what the club truly stands for.

Below you can find out much more about each of the pieces, including facts and stats, and which legends have been included:

Hear an audio description of our new artworks

Victoria Concordia Crescit

Victoria Concordia Crescit tells the story of our iconic players who embody the spirit of the club. Drawing inspiration from the neoclassical style of French revolutionary paintings, the art celebrates our much-loved legends ready for battle alongside the famous cannons with flags emblazoned with the club’s motto: Victoria Concordia Crescit – Victory Through Harmony.

The cannons have been part of Arsenal’s identity since we were formed by workers at the Royal Arsenal Ordnance Factory in 1886, and Victoria Concordia Crescit has been the club motto since its very first season in north London in 1913/14. 

Curated on the theme of ‘Icons and Role Models’ developed at the first supporter workshop, the intensity and drama of the artwork is accentuated by Reuben Dangoor’s unique style.

This artwork will be positioned to the left of the away entrances as supporters arrive at Emirates Stadium via the Danny Fiszman Bridge.

Players included:

George Male, Martin Keown, Emma Byrne, Jayne Ludlow, Ian Wright, Eddie Hapgood, Alex Scott, Marieanne Spacey, Frank McLintock, David Seaman, Tony Adams, David Rocastle

Key details:

  • AFC is brandished on the cannon balls as a subtle nod to one of our historic crests (’78-’89)
  • Ian Wright features with his fingers in his ears, an adaptation of his iconic celebration
  • 1886 is etched into the cannon on the right as a nod to our founding year
  • The stickers applied to both cannons celebrate our history and achievements
  • Gunnersaurus is tied to the cannon on the right with a yellow ribbon
  • A yellow ribbon also features on the cannon on the left

Remember Who You Are

Remember Who You Are pays homage to the memories and history of our former home, Highbury. This stunning representation of the stadium's East Stand – one of football’s architectural masterpieces – is firmly rooted in the club’s DNA, with special moments in time featuring some of our greatest players and managers included throughout the artwork.

The name of the piece recalls a quote passed down through generations of our players and is now synonymous with David Rocastle: “Remember who you are, what you are and who you represent.”

Highbury and the iconic quote were two of the most referenced elements in the first supporter workshop, highlighting to Reuben that something very special was required to pay tribute to the club’s former home. It was also fitting to honour the club’s historic legends by taking them home to Highbury.

The artwork will be positioned on the east side of the stadium, facing Highbury.

Personnel featured (top left to bottom right):

Kirsty Pealling, John Radford, Alan Smith, Sian Williams, Faye White, David Jack, Kenny Sansom, Cliff Bastin, Ian Wright, Thierry Henry, Ted Drake, David Danskin, Ken Friar, Arsene Wenger, Bob Wilson, David Seaman, Pat Rice, Alex James, Jack Kelsey, George Armstrong, Michael Thomas, David Rocastle, Kevin Campbell, Paul Davis, Reg Lewis, Joe Mercer, Herbert Chapman, George Graham, Bertie Mee, Lee Dixon, Tony Adams, Steve Bould, Nigel Winterburn.

Find out more about some of the subtle nods our most knowledgable supporters will enjoy in this artwork

Invincible

Invincible immortalises two of our greatest glories: the men’s invincible Premier League season of 2003/04 and the women’s Champions League winning team of 2006/07. Arsene Wenger’s team remain the only side to achieve this feat in the modern era, while Vic Akers’ Gunners are the only British team to lift Europe’s most prestigious club trophy. 

‘Invincible’ is a term frequently associated with the legendary men’s team, but this striking artwork celebrates the remarkable invincibility of the women’s team in that 2006/07 season. The campaign brought a stunning quadruple, combining European glory with success in both domestic cups, and it was also the third of four successive unbeaten, title-winning seasons for the team, highlighting their complete domestic dominance as well as glory in Europe.

The artwork is Reuben’s artistic representation of the successes which were widely acclaimed at the supporter workshops. With so many achievements in our history, the first workshop helped devise a narrative of historic firsts with these two stellar seasons transcending the multitude of other successes across our illustrious history.

Men’s players included:

Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Vieira, Ray Parlour, Thierry Henry, Arsène Wenger, Robert Pires, Freddie Ljungberg, Sol Campbell, Gilberto, Kolo Toure, Lauren, Edu, Jens Lehmann, Ashley Cole

 

Nine players with fewer league appearances are also honoured by being engraved on the base of the trophy: Pascal Cygan, Sylvain Wiltord, Jose Antonio Reyes, Gael Clichy, Kanu, Martin Keown, Jeremie Aliadiere, David Bentley and Justin Hoyte.

Women’s players included:

Anita Asante, Julie Fleeting, Lianne Sanderson, Alex Scott, Jayne Ludlow, Katie Chapman, Rachel Yankey, Mary Phillip, Ciara Grant, Kelly Smith, Vic Akers, Karen Carney, Emma Byrne, Faye White

 

Four players with fewer European appearances are also honoured by being engraved on the base of the trophy: Gemma Davison, Sian Larkin, Danielle Buet, Charlotte Gurr.

Key details:

  • Whilst Freddie Ljungberg didn’t have his iconic red hairstyle during this season, we felt it was important to represent him in a manner that so many supporters connect with
  • All players, whether they played every game or one minute within their respective campaigns, are recognised either in illustration form or engraved onto the trophies
  • Faye White was club captain during this season; however, she was injured for a large part of the campaign and came on as a sub for one minute in the final leg of the competition. To honour her legacy and captaincy of that great team, the club included Faye in the composition, but also ensured she is prominently championed in Remember Who You Are

Come To See The Arsenal

Come To See The Arsenal is a bold, type-based design that celebrates our community roots and will be seen by passengers on southbound trains arriving into London passing Emirates Stadium. Taking inspiration from Highbury as ‘The Home of Football’, the bespoke typeface creates an impactful design and draws on a strong focus from the workshops to evoke our north London pride.

The typeface is a modified version of the new ‘Northbank’ font, which draws inspiration from the lettering on Highbury’s East Stand.

In keeping with the broader theme of Jeremy Deller’s trademark flag designs seen throughout the eight-piece collection, this artwork was made in conjunction with pre-eminent graphic designer and typographic treatment specialist, David Rudnick. 

The process of creating Come To See The Arsenal also involved the unique skills of Britain’s most prolific banner maker and fellow Gooner, Ed Hall. Ed handmade the original artwork, which was then photographed in order to give the final design the authentic billowing flag effect.

Eighteen Eighty-Six

Eighteen Eighty-Six is a bold, type-based design that symbolises our founding year in Woolwich and courageous move to north London in 1913 in the constant pursuit of progress. 

Redcurrant and graphic cues on the ‘Always Forward’ scroll are a subtle nod to Highbury, while retro elements within the artwork are inspired by historic Arsenal iconography, such as the ermine motifs which featured on our Victoria Concordia Crescit crest. The forward momentum of the scroll also represents our dynamic history, from the humble conception of the club to our current existence as a modern global brand, some 137 years later.  

In many ways, Eighteen Eighty-Six is a partner piece to Come To See The Arsenal. Another signature Jeremy Deller artwork, it has also been made in conjunction with world-renowned graphic designer and typographic treatment specialist, David Rudnick. The graphic typography within the artwork was custom created by David, with the aim of taking a traditional typeface and adding a futuristic edge

Expert banner maker Ed Hall was also heavily involved in the process, again handmaking the original artwork before it was photographed.

We All Follow The Arsenal

We All Follow The Arsenal is a rich tapestry that represents the diversity of the Arsenal family and champions our local and global supporters from Islington to India and beyond. The artwork responds to a strong focus on the passion felt by our supporters everywhere and the deep connection they feel to the club, wherever they are in the world. 

Featuring 150 official supporter groups spanning all continents, the artwork comprises 187 banners and flags in total. The physical banners were handmade and individually photographed to create the authentic, billowing flag effect.

Considering the iconography of football language, flags and banners have always played a major role throughout the club’s storied history, and this design is a reflection of the popular global supporter flags that hang inside Emirates Stadium. 

The physical banners in this Jeremy Deller concept were also handmade and individually photographed to create this rich tapestry.

This artwork will be positioned above Armoury Square where many supporters meet before matches.

Future Brilliance

Future Brilliance is inspired by Arsene Wenger’s quote: “Here you have the opportunity to get out the greatness that is in each of you.” The artwork reflects our commitment to providing opportunities for young players to develop and progress, with the players running into the flag on the left as young hopefuls and emerging as the fully-fledged legends that supporters know and love today.

Another of Reuben’s heroic scenes, iconic Islington architecture is the backdrop to this artwork which represents our north London landscape. It pays homage to our local community and sends a message to the thousands of young people with whom we regularly engage through a variety of community projects.

Players included:

Charlie George, Jack Wilshere, David O’Leary, Kelly Smith, Rachel Yankey, Paul Davis, Paul Merson, Lianne Sanderson, Pat Rice, Liam Brady, Tony Adams

Found A Place Where We Belong

Found A Place Where We Belong

Found A Place Where We Belong will be the ultimate illustrated crowd scene that represents the importance of the Arsenal family. The artwork will bring together over 700 supporters who have contributed to the club’s success, given so much to the community and followed us through thick and thin – from Woolwich to Highbury to Emirates Stadium, stalwarts of Meadow Park and away days in between. Bespoke flags and banners, which were handmade in Woolwich, featuring terrace anthems sung throughout the ages will be woven into the artwork. 

The name of the piece is inspired by Dennis Bergkamp’s quote: "When you start supporting a football club, you don't support it because of the trophies, or a player, or history, you support it because you found yourself somewhere there; found a place where you belong." 

The rich tapestry of supporters includes:

  • Iconic supporters from throughout the ages 
  • Workshop contributors which included a diverse cross-section of supporters, such as supporter group representatives, Arsenal in the Community members, Arsenal-mad creatives, members of the local north London community, and legends from the previous Emirates Stadium artwork and their families
  • Season ticket holders who have attended more than 350 games since Emirates Stadium opened
  • Past and present long-serving staff members
  • Individuals nominated by supporter groups, who felt their love for the club made them particularly worthy of inclusion
  • Supporters who have made a positive contribution to the local community

Key details:

  • It took Reuben Dangoor 45 minutes to sketch each individual in the scene, meaning an estimated 32,445 minutes were spent creating the full piece 
  • There are jockeys and boxers immortalised within the crowd scene after Highbury hosted an annual boxers v jockeys match during the 1950s for the Sportsman’s Aid Society. “The jockeys used to literally run between our legs and some of them were right little tricky fellas, who would give as good as they got on the physical side too”, said legendary heavyweight Henry Cooper
  • Other notable supporters include our beloved Maria Petri who followed the men’s, women’s, and academy teams with unrivalled passion before she passed away last year, and Florrie Burgess, who is famous for attending the first-ever Arsenal game played at Highbury on September 6, 1913