A celebration of Arsenal through poetry

In celebration of World Poetry Day, a remarkable group of poets gathered at the Arsenal Hub to mark the publication of Welcome to the Goonerverse, a poetry anthology by Dave Seager.

The book beautifully captures what it means to be a Gooner through the words of over 30 poets of all ages, including celebrated author Michael Rosen.

The anthology features three standout poems—Football Needs Fans, Arsenal Is… and May the Force Be With You—written by local community poets who participate in projects with the arts organisation All Change, supported by the Arsenal Foundation. Seager is kindly donating a percentage of each book sale to the Arsenal Foundation’s ongoing work.

This special event, hosted by Arsenal in the Community, brought together All Change’s poets, aged 30 to 91, alongside lifelong Arsenal supporters, including Goonerverse author Dave Seager and special guest Michael Rosen. Renowned spoken-word artist and All Change associate Francesca Beard hosted the evening, which featured exceptional poetry performances from Michael, Dave, and the community poets. Their verses reflected decades of Arsenal fandom, spanning from the 1940s to today.

The event concluded with a deeply moving outdoor performance from Michael and Dave, as they recited poems written in memory of their late sons, Eddie Steele Rosen and Liam Seager. They performed beneath the Found a Place Where We Belong stadium artwork, which features images of Michael with Eddie and Dave with Liam at Emirates Stadium—a poignant tribute to their shared love of football and family.

Welcome to the Goonerverse is the first-ever Arsenal-themed poetry anthology, featuring 70 poems that blend humour, emotion, and personal experiences with the club. Accompanied by stunning photography and artwork, the collection offers a unique and heartfelt tribute to Arsenal’s rich history.

You can purchase your copy here.