By Mac Johnson (Deputy Editor)
Emirates Stadium is getting a facelift.
Around a year ago, it was announced that the Emirates was undergoing a change to its artwork. The portraits of 32 legends, from club founders to the stars of the 90's to the Invincibles, currently ring eight murals around the stadium. They were installed early in the stadium's tenure, and have proven iconic, but aged.
Over the years, sun bleaching and weather have taken their toll, ironic perhaps given the fading and cracking of a once-storied club that many of us can credit with amazing memories. The picture below (though blurry) illustrates that decay. And perhaps just in time with the club's revolution back to the top of the league, the artwork will get a revamp.
It's a shame to see such an iconic mural go, but honestly, it's about time. A touch-up would have been lovely, but something more drastic is necessary to give the Emirates the pop and pizzazz it deserves. And Arsenal left no stone unturned in their pursuit of that flair. They surveyed fans from the Tollington to the exclusive Diamond Club, consulted with local artists and professional designers, and after nearly a year of artistic R&D, settled on eight concepts, seven of which were finalized yesterday in a really cool promotion video.
I'm no painter or graphic designer, but just for shit's and giggles, I'll be rating the seven pieces of artwork on how much I like them. I must say, I do love the thought of the Emirates Stadium being a proverbial art gallery—it makes up for some of the lack of ingenuity in the architectural design of the Emirates, in a time where modern stadiums are wonders of engineering almost by default. And without further ado, let's dig in!
Okay maybe some ado. I can't write this article without giving artist credit. Reuben Dangoor, Jeremy Deller, and David Rudnick are the masterminds behind this rebuild. Dangoor is a lifelong Arsenal fan and artist with whom Arsenal have worked for some of their adidas collabs. Deller is an award-winning concept artist. Rudnick is a graphic designer and makes his work as a typographer. They all support Arsenal, or live in the nearby borough of Islington. This project is one close to their hearts.
No more ado. Let's go.
Victoria Concordia Crescit - Reuben Dangoor
We're starting off with a bang here. No pun intended.
The motto of "Victory Through Harmony" is one of my favorite elements of Arsenal's core spirit. An intrinsic part of the club's legacy, the legends depicted either side of the iconic cannons are those who represented both the fierce football of the Arsenal and it's legacy as a place for people of quality character. George Male, Emma Byrne, Martin Keown, Marianne Spacey, Ian Wright. They've even left room for Gunnersaurus (bottom of the right cannon), and the small details on the cannons are really fun.
Most poignant to me is David "Rocky" Rocastle, who occupies the front right of the piece. In his eternal words: "Remember who you are, and what you represent." That spirit is reflected in Dangoor's work.
Overall, the piece is my favorite of Dangoor's collection. It's cohesive, visually impactful, but doesn't miss out on small fun elements either.
Rating: 9/10
1886 - Jeremy Deller
A much simpler piece, this, but nonetheless a lovely one. The font is really nice, and I like the maroon detailing around the center. It's painted to look like a flag, a theme among Deller's work, and something I appreciate, as it provides a little bit of depth.
I also like the merging of two themes, with the founding year of the club (couldn't you tell?) of 1886 combined with the "Always Forward" motto and mentality that represents the current arc of the club, typified by the tenure of Mikel Arteta. It feels like something that could potentially spawn another pretty training kit.
That said, the AFC in the bottom left is a mite clunky, and it looks imbalanced with no design in the bottom right. With that and simplicity being its two biggest drawbacks, its rating will slip slightly.
Rating: 5.5/10
Invincible - Reuben Dangoor
This profiles very similar to Victoria Concordia Crescit. Same grass design, same background. It recognizes the two Arsenal teams to do the near-impossible in their respective competitions. Arsenal's 2003-04 men's Premier League Squad went undefeated in the competition, the only team to do so in the modern era. Arsenal's 2006-07 women's squad won the UEFA Women's Cup, the precursor to the Champions' League in women's football. They are still the only English team to do so, and completed a whopping quadruple that season, winning the domestic title and two domestic cups to boot.
I like the depiction of the two iconic trophies, and the thought of the unity necessary to achieve those feats. The presence of Vic Akers and Arsene Wenger, Arsenal's two most iconic managers, highlights that, especially because of the messages they embodied. I also appreciate the allusion to key parts of Arsenal's history.
That said, I don't find Dangoor's illustrative style as fetching here, and I think the massive stretch of unmarred sky in the backdrop doesn't do the mural justice. Unfortunately, the Emirates Airline logo will take that space, which I find unfortunately jarring. It's also not easy to make out some of the faces in the background, though it will be clearer when it's up on the stadium.
Rating: 7/10
Come to See the Arsenal - Jeremy Deller
Another simple piece from Deller. I love the font choices—they're based on the Northbank font inspired by the lettering on Highbury—and the same comment about the flag style applies here. I prefer the borders on this to 1886 by far, especially with the integration of the lightning stripe, and it's the only mural to prize the current Arsenal logo, which takes precedence on the current "32 Legends" murals. That said, if you watch the video, the iconic red-and-blue logo will superimpose over the current one in the center, which I prefer.
I also have to give this mural props because of its positioning: it will face the train stations that approach the Emirates from outside London, serving to invite everybody sees it into one central truth of the world. North London is Red. It's bold, and inviting, and again, it's only true drawback is simplicity.
Rating: 7.5/10
Future Brilliance - Reuben Dangoor
Dangoor has played a really nice hand here, again in his typical neoclassical style. The work is based on the Arsene Wenger quote that lies above the entrance to London Colney, and uses the skyline of Islington and the Emirates to show the unity of Arsenal in the community.
It takes the club's priority towards homegrown players, who often come from the communities around the Emirates, and shows how those same youngsters who can run through the doors of Hale End can run out stars. Depicted are many of the Arsenal legends who have graduated from the Arsenal academy, with Jack Wilshere being the most recent. It's also meant to serve as a source of inspiration for those who interact with the Arsenal community.
"Here you have the opportunity to get out the greatness that is in each of you” - Arsene Wenger
The mural is beautifully balanced, and touching in general, though maybe a bit over-busy. I think the almost paternal note of Future Brilliance could be read as patronizing, but I read it as a way in which Arsenal elevates the community at the same time as the community elevates Arsenal. It reflects the current spirit of the club, typified by Hale End stars Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe.
Rating: 8.5/10
We All Follow the Arsenal - Jeremy Deller
This mural is special. Truly special. Simply based off that, you'll probably guess my general rating at the end, but I love it to bits. The idea of accumulating those flags from around the stadium often seen hung over railings and along side walls, not to mention in pubs and in the places where fans gather and stitching them together is brilliant.
In a dizzying effort, Artist and flag-maker Ed Hall compiled and hand-stitched the flags of 150 official supporter groups, with 187 total flags, taking individual and group photographs along the way. It's truly a global representation of the Arsenal community. Go ahead and find your flag!
As a fan, I love it dearly, and the Arsenal logo in the center will make it pop once it's up on the stadium. And listen. It's crazy, it's wild, and it's too much for me. I'm much more of a minimalist. But I also think it's magical, and if you disagree, that's okay.
On a side note, I feel like Daniel Finton loves this one.
Rating: 9.5/10
Remember Who You Are - Reuben Dangoor
The other piece of work based off Rocky's famous quote, Dangoor's last piece of work takes the old facade of Highbury's East Stand, the art-deco historical building that is the last remanent of Arsenal's original stadium, and transforms it. The building contains the marble halls that inspired the controversial red-and-white marbled kit in which we won the 2020 FA Cup, but I think this use of the facade is much more powerful.
Arsenal's legendary back four, all of our top scorers, along with our most iconic players and captains and managers, are all represented in windows of the edifice. Importantly, there are blank windows: room to continue to write our history. I wouldn't be shocked if Bukayo Saka occupies one of them in a decade or two.
The small details are impeccable. Cliff Bastin, Ian Wright, and Thierry Henry's goal total numbers are all etched in gold roman numerals. The back four are appealing for offside. Trophies, pennants, and original footballs are all represented. And my personal favorite, this mural will be the only one not superimposed by either Arsenal's logo or the Emirates logo.
So shame me for saving my favorite for last. I don't care. Simple, artistic, beautiful. I'm a big fan.
Rating: 10/10
Of course, there's one mural left to go, one that's not yet finished. "Found A Place Where We Belong," Dangoor's fifth piece, will feature 721 Arsenal supporters, along with banners and flags. The picture below, via the Evening Standard, is the closest we get to seeing it.
The visual on the Arsenal website is a little more spread out luckily, and iconic fan faces are easily visible, like Nick Hornby, Maria Petri, along with other fans and members of the club staff who have had a large impact on the Arsenal community. The work is based on a quote from Dennis Bergkamp. I think it will be beautiful once finished.
"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." - Dennis Bergkamp
Here ends the article! Thank you to those of you who have made it this far. It's awesome to be back. Much love y'all. Now go do something useful, like listening to (or WATCHING!) the latest episode of the Arsenal Cannon Podcast, Episode 150. Signing off. Cheers!
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