Emirates and Arsenal Celebrate 20 Years with an Amazing Sculpture Made from Real Airplane Parts!

What Happened?

Emirates (the airline) and Arsenal (the football club) just showed off a super cool sculpture at Emirates Stadium in London. They made it to celebrate 20 years of working together—and they just agreed to keep partnering until 2033!

The sculpture is called "The Aircrafted Arsenal Crest." It’s 2.4 metres tall (that’s about as tall as a doorway!) and it lights up. The most amazing part? It’s built entirely from pieces of real Emirates airplanes.

The Cool Sculpture: "The Aircrafted Arsenal Crest"

Think of the Arsenal badge—the one with the cannon on it. Now imagine that badge, but giant, shiny, and made from airplane metal. That’s basically what this is!

IMPORTANT POINT: This isn’t just any decoration. It’s a permanent artwork that connects Arsenal’s history (they’ve had a cannon on their badge since 1905!) with Emirates’ history of building and flying planes.

How They Built It: Step by Step

It took a team of 15 people (engineers, designers, mechanics, technicians, and painters) just 34 days to build this masterpiece. Here’s how they did it:

1. Picked the Parts: They chose strong, cool-shaped pieces from retired Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 planes.
2. Cleaned & Prepped: Every piece was scrubbed clean and got ready for its new job.
3. Cut & Shaped: Using special tools, they cut, curved, and machined the metal into the exact shapes needed for the cannon and shield.
4. Assembled Like a Puzzle: They riveted and bolted everything together—just like building a real plane!
5. Painted Perfectly: They painted it to match Arsenal’s exact official colours.
6. Added the Glow: They installed special warm white lights inside the letters and under the base.
7. Flew It to London: The finished sculpture caught a ride on an Emirates SkyCargo freighter from Dubai to London.
8. Installed at the Stadium: It was carefully placed in Emirates’ hospitality area at Emirates Stadium.

What Airplane Parts Were Used?

The engineers got really creative. Here’s where the plane parts ended up:

The Cannon (The Heart of the Badge)

• Wheel Hub: The centre of the cannon’s wheel is an actual main landing gear wheel hub from an Airbus A380!
• Barrel: The long tube of the cannon is made from a titanium bleed air duct (a super-strong pipe that moves hot air in the engine) cut and reshaped.
• Body: The 3D body of the cannon is built up from lightweight composite floor panels (the same stuff used for cabin floors).

The Shield & Details

• Face: Sheets of aluminium fuselage skin from a Boeing 777 (the outer "skin" of the plane!).
• Edges & Structure: Aircraft cargo tracks (the metal rails used to lock down cargo boxes) form the shield’s border and inner support.
• Extra Bits: Cargo floor panels and rollers (the little wheels that help slide heavy pallets) are used throughout.
• Lettering: The "ARSENAL" letters are individually shaped from real aircraft windows with lights built right in!

Why This Matters: A Callout on Connection

WHY THIS IS SPECIAL

Arsenal started in Woolwich—a place famous for building weapons and artillery (that’s why they’re nicknamed The Gunners).

Emirates is famous for engineering, innovation, and flying the biggest planes (like the A380).

This sculpture welds those two histories together. By putting an A380 landing gear hub at the centre of the cannon, Emirates has literally put their "aviation DNA" into the heart of the club’s identity. It turns industrial heritage into art.

Quotes from the Big Bosses

Sir Tim Clark (President of Emirates Airline)

"Emirates and Arsenal have shared an extraordinary journey over the past 20 years… To mark this anniversary, we wanted to create something permanent that could only come from Emirates and Arsenal. Our Engineering team has transformed components from our Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft into one of football’s most iconic symbols… As we enter the next chapter of our partnership, this sculpture is both a celebration of everything we have achieved together and a statement of our shared ambition for the future."

Richard Garlick (Chief Executive of Arsenal)

"We’re hugely grateful to Emirates for creating this special tribute to our club and to 20 years of partnership between us. The Crest stands as a powerful reflection of our relationship and everything we’ve achieved together along the way. We enter this next chapter together with confidence, ambition and a shared belief in what lies ahead."

What Happens Next?

• The Partnership Continues: Emirates stays as Arsenal’s front-of-shirt sponsor, training kit sponsor, and stadium naming rights partner until 2033. That makes it the longest-running front-of-shirt deal in Premier League history!
• The Sculpture Stays Put: "The Aircrafted Arsenal Crest" will live permanently in Emirates’ hospitality space at Emirates Stadium. So if you go to a game in the Emirates lounges, you can see it up close!

Summary

• Who: Emirates Airline & Arsenal Football Club.
• What: Unveiled a 2.4m tall, illuminated sculpture of the Arsenal crest.
• Made From: Upcycled parts from Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft (landing gear, fuselage skin, cargo tracks, windows, floor panels, titanium ducts).
• Built By: 15 Emirates Engineering specialists in Dubai over 34 days.
• Why: To celebrate 20 years of partnership (extended to 2033).
• Where: Permanently displayed at Emirates Stadium.
• Meaning: Connects Arsenal’s industrial "Gunners" origins with Emirates’ aviation engineering future.

FAQ: Your Questions Answered

1. Can I see this sculpture if I go to a match?

Yes! But it’s inside the Emirates hospitality lounges at the stadium. You’d need access to those areas (usually via a hospitality ticket or membership) to see it in person.

2. Are the airplane parts safe? They came from old planes!

Absolutely. The parts were thoroughly cleaned, inspected, and prepared by certified aircraft engineers. They’re structural aluminium, titanium, and composites—very strong and completely safe. They’re basically retired, not broken.

3. What does "upcycled" mean?

Upcycling is like recycling, but cooler. Instead of melting metal down to make something new (recycling), you take the existing piece—with its history and shape—and give it a brand new, higher-value purpose (like turning a landing gear hub into art!).

4. Why an Airbus A380 and Boeing 777?

These are Emirates’ flagship planes. They fly only these two types (mostly). Using parts from both represents the entire Emirates fleet. Plus, the A380 is the world’s largest passenger plane—fitting for a giant sculpture!

5. How long is the partnership really going to last?

The new deal runs through 2033. That will make it nearly 30 years total (since 2004/2006). In football, where sponsors change every few years, this is basically forever.