When Dr Clive Chijioke Nwonka walked into a pub in Manchester to meet up with friends on 28 September 2002, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. But he was about to watch a moment of footballing and cultural history. That day Arsenal became the first club to name nine black players in a Premier League starting XI. Three of that contingent - Thierry Henry, Nwankwo Kanu and Kolo Toure - were on the scoresheet as the Gunners won 4-1 away against Leeds United. “Their performance heightened the impact of this moment of historical and racial significance," Dr Nwonka, now a professor at University College London, told BBC Africa. "It showed that their presence was justified based on their success." Dr Nwonka has explored the club's contribution to black cultural history as a co-editor of the recently published book Black Arsenal, which includes testimonies and photography from those who have felt a connection with the north London side. “I'm a British Nigerian and seeing black players and African players represented in British football is important to me,” he said.
How Arsenal became synonymous with black identity
Sections of the book analyse Arsenal’s contribution to the influx of black players in the Premier League and the growing attendance of black female fans at the club's Emirates Stadium.
“I always felt that there was something quite important, under-explored, about the ways in which black people found a connection to Arsenal,” said Dr Nwonka.
For diehard fans the support for their club can permeate almost every aspect of their daily lives, and this commitment is reflected in the book.
“When I say Arsenal, I mean the culture of how important Arsenal is to black people," Dr Nwonka added.
"Not the bricks and mortar of a club, but the ways in which we find Arsenal to be referenced in spaces of black cultural density - be it our workplaces, barbershops and churches."
