Sport 11-12-2001 Gunners Given Green Light To Move who: Arsenal what: Get go-ahead for £300 million new stadium where: ISLINGTON when: Yesterday snippet: “This has put us at the start of the road to competing with Manchester United and Juventus,” David Dein, Gunners vice-chairman, said after Islington council gave the green light to a 60,000 seater stadium half a mile from Highbury yesterday. Approval was only given "after a tense four-hour meeting in which residents argued passionately about the advantages and disadvantages of the project," explains the Guardian`s Vivek Chaudhary. "The new stadium won approval from 34 councillors, with seven against and one abstaining. Two members of the council took no part in the meeting because they are Arsenal season-ticket holders." "The most important of the four motions to be discussed took two hours", adds the Independent`s Steve Tongue, "and left the club optimistic that approval to turn Highbury, their home for 88 years, into flats and houses, would also be granted, though the facade of the listed East and West stands would have to be preserved." "We are absolutely delighted to get these plans through so clearly," continued David Dein. "The councillors obviously believe as we do that this is not only be a boon for Arsenal but for the borough as well. Naturally enough Arsene is absolutely delighted - it has been a good week for the club." Dein admitted the idea of uprooting Arsenal from their old fortress at Highbury will still be a wrench, notes BBC Online. But he added: "We believe 60-70,000 people want to watch Arsenal every week and at the moment we just can`t get them all in." [... more]

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