Arsenal have, as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations unveiled three statues of Arsenal legends at the stadium.
Herbert Chapman, along with former captains Thierry Henry and Tony Adams will become part of the Arsenalisation and remain on their respective plinths for many years to come.
Chairman Peter Hill-Wood said, “Today is a celebration of three hugely influential figures in the history of Arsenal Football Club. Herbert Chapman, Tony Adams and Thierry Henry are three Arsenal Legends who have all contributed so much to the successes of this football club.
“These legends are now proudly on display outside Emirates Stadium for all to see, and will provide a way for Arsenal supporters, and indeed any visitors to the stadium, to remember them and pay their own tributes to these three great men.”
Arsene Wenger hailed Chapman, whose statue was placed at the Danny Fiszman bridge, as the ‘club’s greatest ever manager’, calling him a ‘revolutionary’ and saying his contribution to the club’s history and traditions would never be forgotten.
At the Ken Friar Bridge Mr Hill-Wood unveiled the statue of Tony Adams. It features the centre-half legend in a pose with his arms out having just scored that goal against Everton as Arsenal sealed the league title in 1998. Would you believe it? You probably would. Tony played a total of 669 games for the club but sadly wasn’t present at today’s ceremonies.
Arsenal’s record goalscorer, Thierry Henry, completed the trio. With 226 goals he remains, and is likely to remain for many years, the club’s all-time record goalscorer.
Described by PHW as a ‘modern day hero’, Henry’s statue shows him on his knees having run all the way up the pitch to score against Sp*rs then all the way back again to celebrate in front of their fans. A tremendous touch for a normally conservative club.
Arsene Wenger said, “I know that he loves Arsenal deeply… He deserves this honour… I am proud of his sensational career”, while an emotional Henry himself told the assembled crowd, “Wow! I never thought in my wildest dreams that this would happen. I have so much love for the club. Once a Gooner, always a Gooner.”
The statues will provide just a small part of the club’s 125th anniversary celebrations and the club have urged all supporters to get to the ground early tomorrow for a number of events.
One of which is a 360 degree, high-resolution photograph of the crowd so make sure you’re doing your best Blue Steel at all times tomorrow. Details can be found on arsenal.com
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Picture via @gingers4limpar
They missed out one statue.. Which i hope they will build soon.. ‘The Dutch Master’ DB10..
Whoever can put a thumbs down to the great DB10 does not deserve access to this great blog!
Agree with Graham
The missing statue is of Wenger himself!
Cool. It’s one of those new Heli-statues.
Can they all fly or is it just Herbert’s one?
I hope RvP sees the statues, likes them, and asks himself what he has to do to get one too.
More of the same, I think 🙂
Where’s the Eboue statue?
It fell over dramatically when someone brushed against it.
heh
They missed out one statue.. Which i hope they will build soon.. ‘The French Professor” Arsene Wenger.
AW is still there.. So might be later when he already retired, it will surely be there..
Great statues, but would love to see one of God there too
thumbs downers, i think he meant Bergkamp, not actually God, now why would anyone thumbs down that?
True class thats why I love the mighty gooners.
Challenge to Wenger…let us witness one of these statues move again. I’m all for Thierry in January.
I ve said it before on here, let’s name the stadium after wenger when the naming rights come back up – with the db10 stand opposite the rocAstle end?
I’m glad they look classy unlike the paedo at Fulham that looks like it was made by someones “arty” son who’s actually shit at art.
Sp*rs goal pose is the perfect choice for Henry as is the Everton goal one for Adams. I think those are the moments that I envisage every time I think about them.
What would Arsene’s be when he eventually gets the one he deserves?
The perfect style for AW is when he kicked the bottle drink or when he stand at the wrong side of MU fans.
heh couldn’t help but chuckle a bit at that
Went to see the clash last night at the scala- so body is recovering big time and I’m miserable.
But this has cheered me right up, what a nice touch! Like others just need Dennis and le prof himself. Or just name a stand after him.
“Wow! I never thought in my wildest dreams that this would happen. I have so much love for the club. Once a Gooner, always a Gooner.”….aaaaahhha Titi we love you back. Now can we interest you in a game or two in January while Gervy is away? For old times sake….?
I think that Henry celebration has to be my favourite of all time, so simple yet wonderfully arrogant. “Yes sp*rs we are and forever will be better than you”
Shattered that they chose these 3 when the best 3 candidates for a statue are Pascal Cygan, The Highbury Squirrel and The Tray Of Dodgy Lasagne.
ahahahaha the tray of dodgy lasagne
that’s the one
a statue of eboue, on one knee, holding the lasagne aloft like a trophy
yes, it works
although i’d have to draw the line at cygan. igors stepanovs every time, son. igors. legend. just ask sir alex
[…] club’s most successful captain, honoured today with his own statue outside the Emirates, may not be a day-to-day presence in and around the dressing-room, but that doesn’t mean he’s […]
[…] other news as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations the club unveiled three statues yesterday of club legends. Herbert Chapman, Tony Adams and Thierry Henry. No doubt all of them made […]
Such a shame that inanimate carbon rod never got his statue,.. what a legend lol
Just heard they nearly made one for Nasri. PHW spoke with him first. PHW: Nas cunt I wanna make a status for u. Nasri: Are you serious uncle Pete? PHW: Sure as egg is egg. Nasri: Sensash!!! How much do the statues cost? PHW: 200thousand pounds sterling upwards… Nasri: I got an idea Pete. PHW: Wat? Nasri: Forget abt the Portar and just give me the money. I’ll stand there. PHW: Oops.
As a Spurs fan, I’m interested to know whether Arsenal fans think the statues are a good likeness. My initial reaction is that the Henry one doesn’t look that much like him, the Chapman one is just a bit too chubby (could be wrong on that one, but I don’t remember him being that fat) and the Adams one having a neck like a steroids filled weightlifter. I’m not here to start an argument, just expressing my own opinion and wondering if everyone likes them (which so far, after reading the comments on here, it sounds like you do?) And… Read more »
never return.
[…] other news as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations the club unveiled three statues yesterday of club legends. Herbert Chapman, Tony Adams and Thierry Henry. No doubt all of them made […]
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