Arsenal director, Ken Friar, has admitted that although he does miss Highbury, moving to the Emirates was the best financial move the club could have made.

• Friar has worked for Arsenal for 71 years
• First started working for Gunners after mis-kicking a ball under George Allison’s car outside Highbury in 1946
• Has a statue and a bridge named after him
• Doesn’t see working for Arsenal ‘as a job’
• Admits he misses Highbury

Speaking to the Islington Gazette, 82-year-old Friar, who first started working as a matchday messenger for Arsenal at the age of 12, gushed about his position at the club, claiming that he still doesn’t even see it as a job.

While the director admitted that he also still misses Highbury, he realises that the club had to move on in order to compete with Europe’s other top clubs.

“I miss those days, of course I do,” Friar said.

“I was at Highbury from 1946 to 2006. It’s a special place. When you spend 60 years somewhere, of course you are going to miss it.

“But tradition doesn’t pay the bills and the club had to move on. I think the stadium we have now justifies why we moved.”

Although the Emirates is yet to experience much success, hopefully, its time will come soon.