The Daily Telegraph - Saturday - Sport Saturday
Weapon is Win the dog, but Gunner was first good boy
help the team going forward. But Win’s daily presence at the training ground is not just about the present and the future. Her role at the club is also a nod to a little-known hero of Arsenal’s storied past, and another four- legged friend who helped the north Londoners to success almost a century ago.
Win, you see, is not the first Arsenal dog. Nor is she the first Arsenal dog recruited to help their pursuit of silverware. Long before she was born, in a different era, there was a bull mastiff called Gunner, who, by all accounts, was a very good boy indeed.
Gunner joined Arsenal at the age of just seven months and went on to play a significant part in the club’s FA Cup triumph in 1936. Historical records show that he was initially known as “The Gunner”, before his name was shortened prior to George Allison’s side defeating Sheffield United in the final at Wembley.
In advance of that final, Gunner had joined the Arsenal players at a training camp in Brighton. Just as Win was part of Arsenal’s squad photo at the start of this season, Gunner was with the class of 1936 as they posed for their own group picture.
While Arsenal were training in Brighton and preparing for the trip to Wembley, a telegram was sent to the squad (and later printed by the Daily Mirror). It was a message for Gunner, reading: “Eyes of dog world on you as Arsenal’s mascot. Must bring victory tomorrow.”
The telegram was signed by Roger and Nita, Gunner’s parents. The true author is unknown but one can only assume it was the handiwork of Capt Chris Towler, who had donated Gunner to the club.
Towler was the editor of The Sporting Life newspaper and a passionate dog breeder. According to The Story of Your Life, a history of the newspaper, he was the president of the British Bull Mastiff League. Nita, Gunner’s mother, was known to be his favourite.
Gunner stayed with the Arsenal squad as they travelled to Wembley, where Ted Drake scored the winning goal in the 74th minute. A week later, Gunner led the team on to the pitch at Highbury as Arsenal paraded the cup before their supporters.
Sadly, little is known about Gunner’s life beyond those heady few days in the spring of 1936. It is possible that he was simply a one-season wonder. Gunner’s CV, though, cannot be questioned: in his first full season with Arsenal, he led the club to a major trophy.
The hope at the present- day Arsenal, of course, is that Win could yet have a similar impact in her first full campaign. Known for her exceptionally calm disposition, she is one of the great unifiers of the squad, apart from when the players are bickering over who gets to take her home ( Ben White and Kai Havertz are among her biggest fans).
Perhaps Win will play her part in a Premier League triumph this month. Perhaps she will not. Whatever the outcome, the wonder of dogs is that she will be there at the club’s Colney training ground either way, wagging her tail and, just like her predecessor all those years ago, wondering what is for dinner. can get for this football club because that’s my responsibility,” Postecoglou said. “I want us to try and win three games and see where that takes us.”
Burnley must beat Spurs to avoid being relegated, but cannot expect any favours from Postecoglou.
Asked if he and his players had given up on the season, Postecoglou replied: “That’s a harsh term, give up. What does that mean? I come in here at 12 o’clock, have a latte, go home and just let the guys train? I don’t give up on anything.
“I never said I didn’t care about finishing top four. What I said was finishing top four does not mean we’re going to be the team I want us to be next year. I don’t give up.”
When it was put to Postecoglou that Tottenham may be better to qualify for the Europa League, a competition the club would have a better chance of winning next season, he said: “I get that, but it doesn’t mean you don’t want to finish as high as possible and get into the best possible competition.
“Finishing fourth and getting into the Champions League does not make you a Champions League club, in my opinion. It just gives you an opportunity to be in there.
“Do I believe right now we’re a Champions League club? No we’re not. Should we finish fourth and make the Champions League, it isn’t going to change my view of where we’re at and what we need to do in the summer.”