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Gooners should feel extremely proud about Arsenal's history because 'The Arsenal' are so much more than a mere Football Club and are rightly regarded by many as an established national institution. The Gunners are one of the principle cornerstones of the English game and have been an essential element of the top division since the days of trams, cloth caps and baggy shorts. The history of Arsenal, whether in the era of Le Boss or Herbert Chapman, is the essence of the Club and if you're not familiar with our illustrious past you probably won't understand what the heartbeat of the Club is all about. So to really comprehend what The Arsenal is all about you can do no better than immerse yourself in this book, because this is an essential read for any true follower of the boys in red and white.
As Arsene Wenger has written in the foreword: 'When I look through the pages of this book, it gives me immense pride to see my teams and players taking their place in the Arsenal story alongside the legends of the past. Part of what drives us on is to add further glorious chapters to this amazing story, and you can be sure that whatever success we enjoy over the coming years, it will be achieved in a manner that is true to the Arsenal tradition'.
The Club's full story is very well covered in this single volume and takes the reader through from Dial Square, where it all started, to our very latest triumphs. With over 200 photos, the majority of which are in colour it is certainly a very well illustrated work and includes many classic photos. These include Alex James leaving Matt Busby and others for dead, Joe Mercer on the shoulders of the 1950 Cup winners and Charlie George's winner for our first Double. Clearly no serious Arsenal fan's book collection is complete without at least one edition of this well-established history of the Club, which has now reached its 15th edition. As new editions have emerged the text remains essentially the same or at least very similar to previous editions but has had additional sections added as both time and trophies demand. Which keeps the book both fresh and current as do the latest pictures which include Fabregas, Eduardo, Adebayor, Walcott and a classic photo of Bendtner heading home against that mob from the wrong end of Seven Sisters Road.
The statistical records contained within each section are pretty comprehensive and cover all the domestic and European competitive matches including goal scorers, subs and end of season appearance totals. Despite the fact that so far as I'm aware neither Phil Soar nor Martin Tyler, better known as the Sky Sports commentator, are Arsenal fans the text is a well researched and an honest assessment of Arsenal Football Club's history to date. I'm quite sure that as with any history it may be possible to find some minor omissions but through all the years I've referred to this book in all it's various guises I have yet to find any major errors. One day someone will come along and write an absolutely definitive Arsenal history, but until that time comes this title will remain the number one comprehensive history of our Club.
The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal 1886-2008
Phil Soar and Martin Tyler with a foreword by Arsene Wenger
Price £20.00
Published by Hamlyn in October 2008
Any decent bookseller will order it in for you if you quote the following reference:
ISBN 978 0 600 61889 8. Or it can be obtained from the Club shops or any of your favourite online bookstores.