This is essentially a pictorial record of Arsenal Football Club and the club's legends that covers their 20th Century exploits using the photographic and written archives of the Daily Mirror.
So far as I can tell 'Making the Arsenal' is only the second novel to be written that relates to Arsenal Football Club, the first being 'The Arsenal Stadium Mystery' which is of course far better known as a film featuring George Allison as himself.
Given that this title is written by the editor of the club's most popular fanzine, namely 'The Gooner' you'd expect it to be an authoritative work, and it is.
I've been putting off my review of this title because I don't particually enjoy being disparaging about anything to do with our Club, but a book review is a book review and I always try to tell it like it is.
You probably wouldn't expect the editor of the New Statesman to be the most obvious author of a book of football. But the fact that his start in journalism came via the magazine '90 Minutes' perhaps offers the first clue as to why he has.
This new book is a really fine read for any of those Arsenal fans who haven't a clue as to why someone by the name of Dan Danskin has been commemorated with a plaque at the corner of Somerville Street, Burntisland in Fife.
You may well ask why I'm only now reviewing a book that was originally published in 1939. Well that's a good question and the answer is simply that a new paperback edition has been recently published.
Subtitled: "The amazing behind the scenes story of the 2007/8 season" this is essentially an access all areas account of the season as seen through the expert eyes of Club photographer Stuart MacFarlane.
Quite apart from the fact that this is an extremely worthy book in aid of Bob's wonderful charity the Willow Foundation (see below) it also happens to be very fine football book.
... By Jem Maidment with a foreword by Arsene Wenger. This book is subtitled: A Comprehensive A-Z of London's Most Successful Club. Which is accurate on both counts.
If you only ever buy one book about the mighty Arsenal then this should be the one. If this Christmas you're looking for a gift for an Arsenal fan or a football fan that's not yet commited to a club then this publication is your answer.
Anyone of a certain age will recall that Charles Buchan's Football Monthly was an essential read for any discerning football fan of the 1950's and 1960's.
Like most books about Arsene Wenger they can be read and even re-read thoroughly from cover to cover but when you get to the final chapter he will still remain a secretive enigma wrapped up in an unfathomable mystery.
The preface to Ashley Cole's book My Defence is entitled ‘Dreamland'. And if you're looking for one word to sum up this entire book, dreamland is it. Reality barely gets a look-in.
The dedication states that ‘This book is dedicated to the Arsenal Stadium, Highbury, and all those who stood, sat, won, lost, clapped and sang there. 1913-2006. So we're off to a good start.
The Preface observantly and rather delightfully notes that ‘It was a Henry who scored the first Highbury hat-trick; another scored the last. The first was by Henry King, the last King Henry – perfect symmetry'.
