This time last week saw the launch of Arsenal’s new kit, the first designed by Puma at the start of what will hopefully be a successful and fondly remembered period in the club’s history.
Already expectation was high with the news that Sanchez has signed for a fee of £32 million whilst Debuchy is almost a done deal at £10 million.
The Lovely Reds was in attendance at the kit launch on London’s famous Carnaby Street at Puma’s flagship London store.
Several hundred fans, press and bloggers had gathered outside the entrance, the shop adorned in striking shades of blue, red and yellow.
There was a palpable sense of expectation in the air as the digital clock projected onto the shopfront counted down the minutes.
As the clock struck '0' the music cut off, the London night air still only for a second before chants that usually adorn the stands of the Emirates rang out filling the streets.
Suddenly Arsene Wenger appeared as a projection, striding confidently towards the camera with the look of a man unburdened, liberated from the financial shackles that have bound his writing hand.
Cue a short film about pride, nurturing young talent and ‘doing things the Arsenal way’.
As the video ended amidst chants of 'One Arsene Wenger' another silence fell as the lights were turned up casting Carnaby street in a fierce white light revealing the silhouettes of three players.
The sheet covering the shopfront fell, the expected crowd let off a cheer and in the shop window stood three incredibly life-like players, Arsenal's Mathieu Flamini, Mikel Arteta and Santi Cazorla. The likeliness was impeccable, the mannequins posed in strong, confident positions, chests puffed arms behind the back.
'Ooooh Santi Cazorla, Ooooh Santi Cazorla' the crowd perked up again which proved too much for the players whose charade as models ended with ear-to ear-ear smiles, arms raised in signs of appreciation to those who had waited patiently, some as long as 2 hours to get a first glimpse at the new kits.
Once the players had left, the doors opened and the first members of the public entered to a guard of honour from the Puma staff who were dressed in custom Arsenal shirts for the occasion. The shop was suddenly full of excitable middle-aged fans, giddy like schoolchildren in a toy store.
Your truly had a photo taken with the FA Cup trophy which was in attendance on the store's far side and met a young freestyler by the name of Daniel Dennehy (danieldennehy.com) who had been keeping the crowds entertained with dazzling feats of skill only moments before.
A quick purchase of a junior shirt for a little cousin later and we were back out into the crisp night air, the first stop en route to the start of the new season.
As the video ended amidst chants of 'One Arsene Wenger' another silence fell as the lights were turned up casting Carnaby street in a fierce white light revealing the silhouettes of three players.
'Ooooh Santi Cazorla, Ooooh Santi Cazorla' the crowd perked up again which proved too much for the players whose charade as models ended with ear-to ear-ear smiles, arms raised in signs of appreciation to those who had waited patiently, some as long as 2 hours to get a first glimpse at the new kits.
Once the players had left, the doors opened and the first members of the public entered to a guard of honour from the Puma staff who were dressed in custom Arsenal shirts for the occasion. The shop was suddenly full of excitable middle-aged fans, giddy like schoolchildren in a toy store.
Your truly had a photo taken with the FA Cup trophy which was in attendance on the store's far side and met a young freestyler by the name of Daniel Dennehy (danieldennehy.com) who had been keeping the crowds entertained with dazzling feats of skill only moments before.
A quick purchase of a junior shirt for a little cousin later and we were back out into the crisp night air, the first stop en route to the start of the new season.
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