Emirates and Arsenal Football Club on Sunday unveiled a 2.4-metre illuminated sculpture crafted from upcycled parts of the airline's Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft, marking 20 years of their sponsorship partnership.

Named "The Aircrafted Arsenal Crest," the installation was revealed at Emirates Stadium ahead of the club's Emirates Cup match against Borussia Dortmund. It was built over 34 days by a team of 15 engineers, designers, mechanics, technicians, and painters at Emirates Engineering in Dubai before being flown to London aboard an Emirates SkyCargo freighter, according to a press release issued by Emirates.

The unveiling follows Arsenal's Premier League-winning season and coincides with the extension of the Emirates-Arsenal partnership through to 2033, under which Emirates will remain the club's front-of-shirt, training kit, and stadium naming rights sponsor.

According to the release, Arsenal's cannon emblem—a symbol that has featured in every version of the club crest since 1905 and inspired the nickname "The Gunners"—was reconstructed using a main landing gear wheel hub from an Airbus A380 to form the cannon's wheel, while a section of titanium bleed air duct was reshaped into its barrel. Lightweight composite floor panels were used to build the cannon's three-dimensional body.

The shield's face was made from sheets of Boeing 777 aluminium fuselage skin, with aircraft cargo tracks forming its outer edge and internal structure, and cargo floor panels and roller components repurposed elsewhere in the design. The lettering spelling "Arsenal" was individually shaped from aircraft windows and fitted with warm white lighting, the release said.

The finished sculpture was painted to match Arsenal's official colours before being shipped to London and will be permanently displayed in Emirates' hospitality space at Emirates Stadium, according to the release.

The crest was unveiled by Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline, and Richard Garlick, Chief Executive of Arsenal.

Sir Tim Clark said Emirates and Arsenal have shared "an extraordinary journey over the past 20 years," adding that the airline's engineering team wanted to mark the anniversary with something that reflected both companies' shared history. He described the sculpture's craftsmanship as a reflection of the precision and discipline common to both aviation and elite sport.

Richard Garlick said the club was grateful to Emirates for the tribute, calling the crest a reflection of the two organisations' 20-year relationship and their shared ambitions going forward. 

Source: PR