INT:
On that point, Johnnie, now it’s ready to be put out into the world, what do you think makes Rocastle so distinctively Arsenal?
JC:
That’s a good question. I think it’s distinctively Arsenal because it’s also quite distinctively London as well. I think it speaks to going our own way, probably not following trends and reacting to what other football clubs are doing, having our own set of core truths that we stand by. Visually, when I first saw the early drafts, it transported me back to the era of Rocky in the 90s… what I think you called it, the “peak swag” era of Arsenal! But then it also feels like it could be from a hundred years before that, or could be living in a hundred years from now.
INT:
That point about London, I’d love to zoom in on a bit. I think if anyone was at the parade this summer, you’ll be able to testify how incredible it was to see the streets of North London so packed, and all those incredibly fashionable takes on kits. But it’s obviously quite a two-way relationship, I think. I'd love to know, how do you think London informs Arsenal’s identity, Johnnie?
JC:
I think it is a two-way thing. London definitely informs our identity, and the other way around. I’d say, obviously, we have our little dent on London culture, and we’ve played a part in that. But I’d say London’s beauty is its diversity in people, right? I think Arsenal’s story parallels really nicely with London’s story – movement from South to North and people coming together with all their different cultures to create something bigger than the individual parts. Our motto is ‘Victoria Concordia Crescit’ – ‘Victory Through Harmony’, it’s baked into who we are as an institution, and I think those two things parallel just really nicely with each other.
INT:
Right now, maybe more so than ever, we’re seeing this real interest and investment in the creative of football, something I do think has been in-part spearheaded by Arsenal opening the Creative Studio in 2022 and investing so much in the women’s team, really tapping into that new audience of fans. But why, Johnnie, do you think we've seen such an increase and interest in football creative right now?
JC:
I think it comes down to the fact that a football club is way more than an elite sporting organisation, right? It’s there to show up in so many moments of people’s lives. And because of that, it becomes part of your core identity. When you wear a football shirt, you’re making a statement, and you’re making a statement of support for that club. Way beyond the 90 minutes, what we need to do is fill that badge with as much creativity, pride and identity. And that’s why I think there’s been this flourish of football creativity, because it’s way more than just the 90 minutes – people can be as proud of what a football club can do away from the pitch as what they do on the pitch.