Our On This Day feature today looks back just one year – to the programme produced by Arsenal for the 2018/19 season. This excellent issue took second place in our Programme of the Season Award. Read our full review of the Arsenal issue below and see all the other Premier League issues from 2018/19 here.
Arsenal’s programmes for the 2018/19 season feature retro style covers, with the cover for the fixture against Watford replicating those used in the 1982/83 season. This cover links in with an extensive section inside the programme that marks Arsenal’s 100th consecutive season in the top flight.
Like the rest of the issue, this historical section is well designed, making use of gold colouring to distinguish it from other sections of the programme. There are several articles included, starting with ‘On This Day’, which features a two-page report and images from an Arsenal fixture in their double-winning season of 2001/02. ‘100 Reasons to Love Arsenal’ selects notable items and memories from the club’s past and present, including in this issue the audio version of the matchday programme produced by the club. ‘Tales of the Century’ recalls defining seasons from Arsenal’s history – here looking at 1937/38, when Arsenal became champions with the joint-lowest points total (52) ever achieved in the old Division One.
‘Stat of the Century’ identifies an iconic stat from Arsenal’s 100 years in the top flight and the detail behind it, while ‘Quote of the Century’ features words from former manager Arsene Wenger who, in September 2002, foresaw the possibility of the undefeated league campaign that the club achieved in 2003/04. ‘The Page Remastered’ recalls the 1982/93 season, looking at the matchday programme from the time and recalling the corresponding fixture against the day’s opponents.
All of this provides a great deal of quality original content for Arsenal supporters and, indeed, anyone who is interested in learning more about the wider history of the game. In addition to the historical content, there are a couple of interviews with current players that cover nine pages in all. There is also a ‘Chalkboard’ feature that provides analysis of a recent fixture; three pages on the club’s community work; and a ‘Junior Gunners’ pull-out section.
Coverage of the visiting club is spread over six pages, opening with a page of news and stats. There are notes on key players and the club’s manager, as well as various miscellaneous snippets of information about Watford. ‘Scouting Report’ provides a detailed analysis of Watford’s recent results and tactical approach, together with key stats from the season to date.
Another very impressive element of the programme is the level of detail that is provided about the club’s various teams. ‘Arsenal Academy’ is an in-depth eight-page section looking at the club’s youth and development squads, including a two-page profile of one young Gunners player; comprehensive reports on recent matches; and news on Arsenal players out on loan at other clubs. ‘The Academy Alumni’ profiles the career of one Arsenal youth product since they left the club. Arsenal Women are also given two pages, covering news, results, and tables.
The programme includes columns from the manager and captain, each of which is spread over three pages. In addition to the type of content that is standard for such articles, the Arsenal issue adds in biographical details alongside the man features. Match reports are allocated three pages each, including reports, full match stats, and a page of images from the game. The stats section at the back of the programme is called ‘The Breakdown’ and features results and tables for the club’s various teams, alongside a host of other stats. This is another section that demonstrates quality design work, utilising the mint colour of the club’s third kit to mark it out from the rest of the programme.
This is an outstanding issue from Arsenal, up there with the many quality programmes the club has produced over the years. The Gunners issue provides some excellent content, which is matched by the quality of the design work throughout.