ARSENAL STAR IN TOWN FOR LAST DAY OF TERM
DUBAI, U.A.E., 21st December 2009 - One of Arsenal’s brightest stars, Kieran Gibbs, was in Dubai at the weekend to meet some of his youngest fans as the first term of the Arsenal Soccer School Dubai drew to a close at 7he Sevens, Emirates’ dedicated sporting venue, on Friday afternoon.
Gibbs, 20, learnt how to ‘Play the Arsenal way’ after joining the Arsenal Academy in 2004 and featured regularly in Arsenal’s under-18 team. In September 2007, Gibbs signed with Arsenal’s first team and made his debut a month later against Sheffield United.
Gibbs made 21 appearances in total last season, including eight in the Premier League and four in the Champions League. His England career is also heading in the right direction. Gibbs was a regular for the Under-21s last term and has been tipped for senior honours by Arsène Wenger.
Gibbs’ visit comes on the heels of his fellow teammates Gael Clichy, Mikael Silvestre, Cesc Fabregas and Manuel Almunia, who have all leant their support to the Arsenal Soccer School and the young footballers of Dubai.
Gibbs interacted with a number of pupils giving his advice and sharing his experiences of playing at the highest level.
Gibbs said, “It has been great to be here and visit the Arsenal Soccer Schools Dubai, I am really impressed with the professionalism of all involved with the school and the enthusiasm shown by all the children.”
Maurice Flanagan, Executive Vice Chairman, Emirates Airline & Group, said: “It has been fantastic that through Emirates’ sponsorship of Arsenal we are able to welcome another Premier League player to come and share his experience with the young football fans of the UAE.”
The second term of the Arsenal Soccer Schools Dubai begins on 4th January 2010 and the school is open to boys and girls, with classes available in both Arabic and English.
More than 1000 children - aged between five and 16 - will be trained each year with each 10-week term costing AED 1,500 for one session per week, with fees of AED 2,500 for two sessions a week. Each session will be between 60 to 75 minutes in duration.
In 2004, Emirates and Arsenal signed the biggest club sponsorship in English football history. In addition to the Fly Emirates logo on the players’ shirts, Emirates also has naming rights of Arsenal’s home, Emirates Stadium. Elsewhere, the airline sponsors Paris Saint-Germain Football Club, Hamburger SV, AC Milan and Olympiacos FC. It is also the Official Sponsor and Airline of BEC Tero Sasana from Thailand.
Emirates’ affinity with football continues as it is an Official Partner of the FIFA World Cup™ and Official Airline and Partner of the Asian Football Confederation. The airline is also heavily involved in rugby, cricket, golf, horseracing, sailing and tennis.
Reservations are now being taken for places at the Dubai school. For more information, visit www.arsenalsoccerschooldubai.com or call (+9714) 809 6679.
Arsenal have been operating soccer schools within the UK and globally for more than 20 years and around 40,000 children have already learned to Play the Arsenal Way. Visit www.playthearsenalway.com for further details.
