Content
The Arsenal Opus comprises 852 beautifully-written and illustrated pages including…
- The Wenger philosophy The most revealing interview ever with the most successful manager in Arsenal's history, Arsène Wenger.
- Changing scenery Extraordinary insider photo essay tracking the last-ever match at Highbury and the first at the Emirates
- Anfield '89 Journalist and 1988/89 League Championship-winning team member Alan Smith relives a magical night with the scorer of the title decider, Mickey Thomas
- Dream XI An Opus panel of eminent judges select their all-time greatest Gunners team
- Portrait gallery Stunning giant Polaroid images of Arsenal stars from past and present taken on a rare 20 x 24 Polaroid Studio camera.
- The best of enemies Frank McLintock and former Tottenham Hotspur marksman Martin Chivers recall their London derby rivalry
- 1-0 to the Arsenal… Legendary back four Tony Adams, Steve Bould, Lee Dixon and Nigel Winterburn reveal the secrets of Arsenal's famously miserly defence
- Exclusive interviews Thierry Henry, George Graham, Terry Neill, Patrick Vieira, Jens Lehmann, Dennis Bergkamp, Pat Jennings, Ian Wright, Ray Parlour, David Seaman, Liam Brady, Frank McLintock, Cesc Fabregas, John Radford and many more
- Gunners memorabilia From cigarette cards to architectural plans to match programmes, the Opus is sprinkled with images of rare historic items
- North Banker Die-hard Arsenal fan and writer Tom Watt reminisces on happy times on the iconic terrace
- Tributes to legends including Tom Whittaker, the Compton brothers, Joe Mercer, Billy Wright, Joe Baker, Herbert Chapman, Alex James, Eddie Hapgood and David Rocastle
- One love Supporters including Mark Ramprakash, Frankie Dettori, Marco Pierre-White and Ian Poulter explain the roots of their passion for Arsenal
- The Double 1970/71 Bob Wilson, Frank McLintock, Charlie George and Don Howe celebrate Arsenal's first league and FA Cup Double success
Reading Room
Flip through the Arsenal Opus
Flip through the entire Arsenal Opus in the Opus Reading Room.
Chapters
Click on the pages to enlarge
INTRODUCTION
Arsenal past and present, a selection of spectacular images
THE FINAL SALUTE
A fond farewell to Highbury, home to Arsenal Football Club for 93 years
NEW HORIZONS
To Emirates Stadium, a 21st century arena
THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
Arsène, Thierry and a decade of success
GLORY DAYS RETURN
George Graham brings home the silverware
A LITTLE LOCAL AFFAIR
Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur: 120 years of rivalry
FRIENDS REUNITED
Terry Neill, Don Howe and four cup finals
THE STUFF OF DREAMS
A fantasy first XI, and other players loved down the years
MEE AND THE DOUBLE
Bertie Mee and his epic achievements of 1970 and 1971
A CUP HERITAGE
The story of Arsenal&s 17 (or 18…) FA Cup Finals
PORTRAIT GALLERY
Players caught in time: a unique collection
EUROPEAN NIGHTS
Great Highbury games, and the road to Paris 2006
CHAPMAN'S LEGACY
George Allison and Tom Whittaker push on
THE INNOVATOR
The genius of Herbert Chapman bears fruit
THE MEN IN CHARGE
Focus on the managers who brought the club glory
TOTAL TEAMWORK
Behind the scenes at the Arsenal training ground
A SLICE OF HISTORY
Formation, great goals, the Hill-Woods, plus 'Our 'Enry'
THE SPIRIT OF HIGHBURY
The legendary North Bank, great moments, fans
PASTURES NEW
How Emirates Stadium was conceived and took shape
FACTS AND FIGURES
All the details of Arsenal's years at Highbury
Words
Arsenal Opus contains over 300,000 words written by some of Britain's finest sportswriters. Edited by Nigel Seymour, formerly of The Daily Telegraph, the Opus showcases the talents of the likes of Sue Mott, David Miller and Patrick Barclay. The writing team draws on years of experience of covering sport at the highest level to offer a fresh take on Arsenal's illustrious history. Ex-Arsenal player-turned-journalist Alan Smith completes the line-up, using his relationship with the club and players to bring you the inside story on some of Arsenal's most important figures and moments.
Pictures
The pages of Arsenal Opus are adorned with over 1,500 carefully selected pictures displayed on an epic scale, the result of painstaking picture research and commissioning of some of spectacular original photography. Much lauded professionals such as Richard Legge, Adam Lawrence, Zed Nelson and Suki Dhanda help to bring the Arsenal story to vivid life. In another extraordinary coup, Rob Wilson, son of Bob and one of the finest photographers in the world, has shot a selection of Arsenal's modern stars from Theo Walcott to Thierry Henry.
Full list of photographers contributing to the Arsenal Opus
Gatefolds
This stunning panoramic photo of the last-ever match at Highbury is displayed as a two-metre wide gatefold, one of four such gatefold images that appear in the Arsenal Opus.
