big day tomorrow with the 125th anniversary celebrations. Some things I really like

- The great-great grandson of Fred Beardsly, who sourced Arsenal's original kit from Nottingham Forest, will assist Vic Akers in setting up the dressing room pre-match.

- The pre-match coin toss will be done with a sixpence to remember the founding team members who each gave a sixpence to buy a football to play their first match

- And then there's a presentation to Nottingham Forest at HT which I really like.

Arsenal Football Club has today honoured a trio of Club legends by unveiling three statues outside Emirates Stadium.

Innovative manager Herbert Chapman, defensive stalwart Tony Adams and goal scoring hero Thierry Henry have all been commemorated in bronze statues, which were today unveiled at Emirates Stadium by Arsenal Chairman, Peter Hill-Wood.

The unveiling forms part of Arsenal’s 125th anniversary celebrations, ahead of the Gunners’ home match with Everton on Saturday - which is the closest date to the Club’s first ever match. This was reportedly on December 11, 1886 when the Club, then known as Dial Square, played against Eastern Wanderers on the Isle of Dogs – a game that ended in a 6-0 victory for the new side.

A large crowd, including many specially invited Arsenal supporters and Thierry Henry himself, witnessed the unveiling of the three statues, which are located in prominent positions around Emirates Stadium.

The first statue to be unveiled was that of Herbert Chapman, who was Arsenal manager between 1925 and 1934. Chapman’s team won the league four times in five years, and his development of advanced diets, fitness and tactical approaches was revolutionary.

The direct, attacking style of players like Alex James, Cliff Bastin and David Jack, who featured in Chapman’s ground-breaking WM formation brought great success to the Club before his untimely death in January 1934 at the age of just 55. The statue of Chapman is located underneath the clock close to the Danny Fiszman Bridge and sees him looking towards the Stadium as a symbol of the Club’s progressiveness since he revolutionised the Club.

The statue of Tony Adams, which is located outside the North Bank at Emirates Stadium, is commemorating an Arsenal Legend who enjoyed a 19-year career at his only club.

Adams joined Arsenal as a trainee in April 1983 and quickly progressed through the ranks to become the Club’s captain in 1988 at the age of just 22.

During his Arsenal career, Adams made a total of 669 appearances placing him second in Arsenal’s all-time appearance records after David O’Leary. He is the most successful captain in the Club’s history, leading Arsenal to ten major honours.

The afternoon’s proceedings were concluded with Hill-Wood unveiling a statue of Thierry Henry, depicted in his famous celebration after scoring his wonder goal against Tottenham Hotspur at Highbury in November 2002. The statue of Henry is located in the south-east corner of Emirates Stadium, by the Spirit of Highbury mural.

Henry is Arsenal’s all-time leading goal scorer with 226 goals. During his eight years at the Club between 1999 and 2007 he won two Premier League championships, two FA Cups, the Premier League ‘Golden Boot’ on four occasions and the PFA Player of the Year twice. Fittingly, on May 7, 2006, he scored the last ever goal at Highbury.

Peter Hill-Wood, who was joined by Arsène Wenger at today’s ceremony, said: “This year is very special in the history of Arsenal Football Club, when we are celebrating our 125th anniversary. This is not only a good moment to look forward to an exciting future, but also to look back and celebrate great figures in the history of our Club.

“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.”

The Chairman concluded: “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.”

Designed and created by MDM, the statues have been cast in bronze and are all life size and a half of the individuals. Having taken roughly 625 hours to create and weighing in at approximately 200kg each, the figures were painstakingly lifted into place on Wednesday, ahead of Friday’s ceremony.

On Saturday, Arsenal Football Club will be celebrating its 125th anniversary at its home match with Everton. Activities will be taking place during the afternoon including the return of many Arsenal Legends, who will be introduced to the crowd before the match.

The Club is urging all supporters to arrive in the stadium by 2.20pm on Saturday, in order to share in the celebrations.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/arsenal-statues-picture-special

[size=6]'It's overwhelming, I'm almost speechless'[/size]

By Chris Harris

Thierry Henry admits he was almost speechless after discovering he would be immortalised at Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal's record goalscorer was one of three statues unveiled outside the ground on Friday ahead of the Club's 125th anniversary celebrations at the Everton game.

Henry was emotional as he addressed fans and guests during the ceremony and he explained how the news was broken to him when he faced reporters afterwards.

"I heard it from [Monday Fans' Forum presenter] Tom Watt and I thought he was joking, because he usually does joke a lot so I was like, 'yeah, whatever'," said Henry. "But it was for real. I know I saw the statue outside but still somehow I can't believe it's real to be honest.

"I'm more than proud - honoured, privileged. At the very beginning I honestly thought it was a joke, until I realised it wasn't. As I said out there, 125 years of history, when you know the players that have played for Arsenal Football Club and I was chosen to be out there next to the stadium.

"I always have something to say usually but I'm kind of speechless. The way the statue is with me leaning in front of the stadium is a great one - it's exactly how I feel about Arsenal Football Club. Also facing not just the Emirates, but Highbury. It's amazing. I never thought I'd be out there like that.

"I was fortunate to have won a lot of stuff in my career but that tops it all. You don't dream about that, it doesn't ever come into your head. Like I said many times, I always went out there in the Arsenal shirt and played 100 per cent.

"I can only embrace it right now and what the boss said in his speech about me was overwhelming to be honest."
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/-it-s-overwhelming-i-m-almost-speechless-

[size=6]Henry - I’d be nothing without team-mates[/size]

By Joe Brewin

Thierry Henry admits he would never have scaled such heights without his former Arsenal team-mates.

The Club’s record goalscorer fought back the tears as his statue was unveiled at Emirates Stadium on Friday alongside fellow legends Herbert Chapman and Tony Adams.

Henry, who scored 226 goals in an Arsenal shirt, admits he owes it all to the players around him during his eight-year tenure at the Club.

“I want to insist how important how important it was for me to play with some great players,” he said. “Without them I wouldn't have been able to play there.

“When you look at the likes of the back four - Martin [Keown], Nigel [Winterburn], Lee [Dixon], David [Seaman], Lauren who came after, [Sol] Campbell, [Ashley] Cole - I am going to name the whole squad - Patrick [Vieira], Sylvain [Wiltord] too, who was underrated at the time because he was an amazing player. Robert [Pires] as well.

“Without them I wouldn't have been able to do what I did - we went through a season unbeaten.

“I wanted to say that again - without your team you are nothing. It would not have been possible without them so I want to thank them too.”
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/henry-i-d-be-nothing-without-team-mates

[size=6]Arsenal - Everton: Preview[/size]

By Richard Clarke

On Friday, once the statues had been unveiled, the applause had died down and the fans had dispersed, Arsène Wenger put on his ‘game face' once again.

The manager is a respectful student of Arsenal's past but will not let it dictate his thoughts on Saturday.

The visit of Everton will see the Emirates Stadium club celebrate its 125th birthday. Quite rightly, a party has been planned. But the hosts must ensure the guests don't take home the best gift of all.

"The present is very important for us," admitted Wenger at Friday's press conference. "We are in the middle of a season where every point is important now.

"I am always more focused on the future than I am on the past. We would like to be at the level of the history of the Club tomorrow but history is one thing, performance on the day is another.

"We have just come back from a convincing win at Wigan and so we are in a position where we just want to collect points because the pace of the Premier League is dictated by the teams in front of us. And it is a tremendous one.

"To keep in touch with them it is important we win our games. We have come back to a decent position and want to climb high up.

"Our job is to focus to reach our targets and to make history but to leave it to other responsible people at the Club to honour those who have already made it.

"We are there to perform."

Andre Santos will be sidelined for some time with the ankle injury collected at Olympiacos in midweek. With Kieran Gibbs (stomach) and two right backs also out, Wenger's defence is likely to be comprised of four centre halves.

At his press conference, the manager confirmed Thomas Vermaelen will move to left-back but he did not concede that this would weaken them down the middle.

"Koscielny has been absolutely convincing in this position so let's hope we get away with it," he said.

"It's not ideal at the moment but that's part of the job of the team as well - to adapt to problems and get over them."

Everton are the epitome of party-poopers. They have taken the lead in each of their last three visits to Emirates Stadium, despite ending up with just one point out of nine. Late goals have saved Arsenal in the last couple of seasons.

David Moyes' men don't score a lot - top marksman Apostolos Vellios has only three goals to his name - but they don't concede a lot either. Hard-working and disciplined, they have grafted their way into the top half of the table to such an extent that last weekend's defeat to Stoke was a significant surprise.

Back-to-back wins before that suggested they had gradually regrouped after the loss of Mikel Arteta to Arsenal late on deadline day. Ahead of the game, Wenger paid tribute to the elegant midfielder who he had long admired during six successful seasons at Goodison Park.

"He has been a fantastic addition," admitted the manager. "We would have been in more trouble [without him] that is for sure.

"The deal went to the wire. We completed it at 9.45pm on August 31.

"For two days it was very uncertain. But we knew Wilshere needed surgery, Diaby was injured and so in midfield we were short. Remember Ramsey had just come back too.

"Mikel has adjusted very well and he has the mental level to be at this Club. We watched him many times before he got his cruciate injury [a few years ago]. It took him a while to get back to his normal level. Now, he is back to normal."

Arteta has helped Arsenal do likewise. Victory on Saturday would see Wenger's side end a weekend in the top four for the first time this season.

They will stay there if leaders Manchester City win at Chelsea on Monday.

Arsenal go to the Etihad Stadium next week in a game that will be billed as a ‘stress-test' for their comeback credentials.

However, in many ways, Saturday's fixture is a dress-rehearsal. Last weekend's win at Wigan is Arsenal's only victory in their last four games. There are certainly mitigating circumstances for the defeats to Manchester City in the Carling Cup and Olympiacos in Europe, but the home draw with Fulham a fortnight ago was a genuine disappointment.

To be fair, they are the only Premier League points Arsenal have dropped in their last seven games.

But you sense that Everton will be cut from the same hard-wearing cloth as Fulham.

So, on a day of celebration, only Arsenal's party best will be enough.

Ref: Howard Webb

Team news

Arsenal: Santos (ankle), Fabianski (knee), Mannone (shoulder), Wilshere (ankle), Gibbs (stomach), Jenkinson (back), Diaby (hamstring), Sagna (ankle), Ryo (ankle).

Everton: Rodwell (doubt - hamstring), Osman (doubt - hamstring), Saha (doubt - foot), Drenthe (foot)
http://www.arsenal.com/match-menu/3408266/first-team/arsenal-v-everton?tab=preview

[size=6]Alan Smith: Arsenal legend Tony Adams unsure where his lengthy career journey will take him next[/size]

The most successful captain in the club’s history has been immortalised in bronze, along with Thierry Henry and Herbert Chapman at the Emirates Stadium.

Unveiled yesterday, their statues now stand proudly outside the Emirates where the club today celebrates 125 years of existence. Everton are the visitors, the team Adams famously scored against in 1998 to seal Arsene Wenger’s first league title at Highbury.

And it is the pose Adams adopted in celebrating that volley, two arms aloft with a beaming smile, that has been re-created for posterity’s sake.

My old team-mate, the cheeky chappy from Essex forever getting into scrapes, has somehow turned into a proper living legend. Now working in Azerbaijan for Gabala FC, Adams is heading to Bucharest to meet with a potential signing. I suggest he has come a long way since joining Arsenal in 1979.

“I know. And I can remember that day clearly now. You know what it was like up at London Colney. There was never much room. So because there wasn’t anywhere else to go, I signed the schoolboy forms in the toilets. It was the only quiet place Steve Burtenshaw [the chief scout] could find.

“Then you look back at all the matches, the tough scraps at Barnsley or somewhere on a wet Tuesday night. It’s been a long road but this kind of thing makes it all worthwhile.

“It’s been a year or more now since I found out about the statue. I’ve been working with the artist, giving him all my dimensions and that, making sure he increases my chest size by a few inches. Now it’s done, Ray Parlour actually reckons the statue moves quicker than me!

“But seriously, I was thrilled to bits when I heard. It’s a massive honour to be recognised this way. I know some people think you should be dead before having a statue cast but, without wishing to get too profound, this commemorates a playing career that died a while back.”

That may be the case but that hasn’t stopped Adams from keeping in touch, from sending the odd message back to his spiritual HQ. As the club’s present captain, Robin van Persie has received a few words of advice.

“I’ve been texting RVP. I think he’s a nice guy and was always captaincy material but, before, he just didn’t have enough support. It was much easier for me in my time. I had six or seven lieutenants around me, people who could also take charge.

“So that was something I said to him – get some players around you to back you up. You can’t do it alone. And to be fair, I think Per [Mertesacker] has been a big help. He’s been a good ally in the dressing room from what I hear. Before, there was conflict but now there seems to be a lot more togetherness.”

No surprise either that this improved team spirit has coincided with a great run of results to reduce the heat on a man whose job security was being seriously questioned.

Adams has often been quoted in the past as being critical of his old manager. Most recently, he appeared on the front cover of an in-flight magazine that had him doubting Wenger’s coaching abilities.

A little embarrassingly, the magazine turned up on an Arsenal flight to leave Wenger facing one or two awkward questions. Yet Adams, as always, was only speaking his mind in pointing to the fact that Wenger’s biggest strength is recruiting top talent and giving it the platform to play. An emphasis on tactics has never been his thing.

“I thought it was laughable when Arsene was getting all that stick at the start of this season”, Adams says. “Stupidly, he was put under pressure, people were wondering if he was the right man for the job, and I thought that was ridiculous.

"So I offered my support, texting him a few times. Seems daft really. You could argue I’m the one more in need of advice as a young manager toiling away in Azerbaijan, not Arsene, the greatest manager in Arsenal’s history.”

And it is for this reason, Adams's tie-up with Gabala FC, that sees him on a train heading for Bucharest where a meeting awaits with a potential signing. Adams, however, has had enough of a role that had him organising everything, from cutting the grass to sorting out the kit.

Not only that, his wife and children were living three hours away in the capital, Baku.
After 18 months in the job, and with the team lying sixth in the Azerbaijani league, it is time to take a step back and evaluate his options.

“To be honest, I don’t know what’s going to happen next. I’m hoping to meet up with the [club] president in Austria next week and we’ll take it from there. Maybe a less hands-on director-of-football role could work or maybe I will leave altogether. We’ll see.”

Yet listening to him talk, it’s obvious that he is enjoying life to the full.

Thankfully, the dark days have long since been banished, to be replaced by a deep appreciation of his lot.

“I’m 15 years sober, feeling fresh as a daisy. Life is fantastic, an unbelievable adventure.”

Part of that adventure was helping to set up Sporting Chance, the charitable foundation aimed at providing counselling and treatment for sports people with addictions. It has recently been contacted in the wake of Gary Speed’s death by several footballers suffering from depression.

Like everyone, Adams was shocked by Speed’s tragic passing, but he is reluctant to be a constant spokesman on such delicate issues.

“I don’t want to be giving my opinion on matters that other people within our charity are much better qualified to discuss. Sporting Chance has been around for 11 years now and I’m very proud of that fact. But I’ve moved away to do other things. Principally, I’m a coach who is determined to do well.”

Where that ambition takes him next is unknown for now. But if he came back to England, he insists it could only be to one place.

The statue tells the tale. Adams is Arsenal.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/8946755/Alan-Smith-Arsenal-legend-Tony-Adams-unsure-where-his-lengthy-career-journey-will-take-him-next.html

clichy didnt leave for money, gooners still respect him due to him being a invincible and unlike nasri spoke no ill will towards us

This is my favourite, but its hard to pick just one
[youtube]lJUq5o7OOOY[/youtube]

Watch this with the volume down... shocking song choice
[youtube]kJvp07tpsWU[/youtube]

Fair to say the captaincy and switching to No.10 has worked well for him... there doesn't seem to be any signs of slowing down either.

...a bronze statuue of him holding aloft 'ol big ears' would be a nice addition to the Arsenal promenade. [-o<

There is only one club I would want to go back to and be No.1 or even on the backroom staff – and that is ­Arsenal.