I’m delighted to announce that the Arsenal FC Blog has relaunched with a new design and logo and you’re viewing the results. Think of it as an early Christmas present!
The entire design of the blog has been revamped from the front page to the actual posts, comments now come with avatars and the About page has had a significant redo. In my opinion it is cleaner, easier to follow and shows off the content on the blog better than ever.
The new Arsenal FC Blog logo is a representation of Arsenal’s past, present and future. It features the club’s modern crest and the iconic red and white colours as its major focus while the maroon colour used in the first years of Highbury and the bright yellow and blue made famous by Arsenal’s 1979 FA Cup win completes the design.
The flags grouped on the top of the banner have been included to recognise the contribution of the biggest Arsenal FC Blog communities around the world. While most of the readers of the blog come from the English-speaking nations of the UK, the US and my native Australia there is also a huge readership in places like France, Spain, Germany and Italy as well as Nigeria and Kenya in Africa and Malaysia.
I wanted to recognise that and including the flags of those nations is my way of saying thank-you for all the readers in those communities for their support and input.
Let us know what you think of the new design in the comments below – praise or constructive criticism are equally welcome.
Have your say on the Arsenal FC Blog’s relaunch by leaving a comment.
{ 63 comments… read them below or add one }
Great going mate…
looks great. can you not just keep the arsenal logo tho?
Thanks guys – what do you mean harry by the Arsenal logo?
Don’t take this the wrong way, but the logo looks like a barca/sevilla crest ;p
very nice, wats with the badca colours on the logo though?
Really liking it AW, it’s a lot cleaner and nicer on the eye altogether. Interesting logo design too, it reminds me of Barca and Sevilla more than the Gunners at the moment, but it’ll grow on me I’m sure and it’s certainly unique! The whole redesign looks really professional.
One thing I’d love to see on your site is a ‘More Articles’ link at the bottom of the Recent posts box on the right. It shows the last five updates but it’s trickier to get to older articles. And there’s often some good reading there! Just a thought, certainly non-essential.
Good stuff.
*barca
Very clean and easy to navigate Andrew. The logo is unique and great as well. Good job overall. Keep the posts interesting and I’ll be coming back for m,ore
geil.
Everyone is saying Barca and Sevilla, but my first impression was Stoke and Villa
The redcurrant theme has been used by many other Arsenal blogs, such as Arsenal Vision, Gunnerblog, and Arsenal Insider. I’d suggest a brighter shade of red to differentiate your blog from others, but I’m more interested in the contents rather than aesthetics.
Bit worried that it looks like half the Barca badge. I know they want most of our players, but still…
Viva Barca. Cesc is going home!
I guess to those commenting that the logo looks a bit like Barcelona:
“The new Arsenal FC Blog logo is a representation of Arsenal’s past, present and future. It features the club’s modern crest and the iconic red and white colours as its major focus while the maroon colour used in the first years of Highbury and the bright yellow and blue made famous by Arsenal’s 1979 FA Cup win completes the design.”
Cheers for the feedback, I hope it’s a grower
@ StarGhazzer – Thanks for the input. Will take things on board, but I think the logo design should be strong enough to differentiate even if the colours don’t. There’s only so many shades of red, after all.
Now, just have to sort my own avatar out…
the badge looks like your promoting an upcoming match between barca and athletico madrid.
Why not stick with our badge, all else is good though
GL
Instead of the red current and blue side by side which is just like Barca, how about having the first block in blue with the yellow cannon, followed by Arsenal FC Blog in white font and red currant background , then half red and half white (instead of red and white strips which reminds me of Sunderland)
Spanish: Thanks for your efforts in making this the best blog you can for this international Arse-community. I like the banner and the general look of the site. I also like the historical concept of the logo – but in all honesty, the logo’s color scheme doesn’t “look like Arsenal” to me. I don’t hate it or anything like that – it looks pretty cool. I like the shield shape and the yellow cannon. But my first impression was – hey, that’s a Barca shirt on top and an Athletico Madrid shirt on the bottom. Again, thanks for all your good work – just providing frank feedback.
@ Dave – Unfortunately the Arsenal crest/badge is copyrighted. Not allowed to use it.
Thanks for the feedback.
Do we have to sign up for emails again? Looks great….I like the red you are using it is easier on the eyes than the bright red. Where’s the Canadian flag?? J/K I know you can’t rep everyone.
xt / Bruce – Thanks again. Good to hear peoples opinions.
I tried many, many, many different combinations of the colours and this was by far the most unique and aesthetically pleasing. It might not quite be Arsenal but first and foremost it is a logo to represent this blog – not the football club. Once again, the unique look is what I particularly like – there is no blog out there that has anything like this in my opinion.
@ Jess – Nope, won’t affect emails. Thanks for commenting. Maybe once the Canadian contingent grows big enough they can get a shout-out.
I dunno, looks a bit generic too me
/
I’m all for the unique design – bold, simple and “pungeant”. Good work and a big improvement on the last one.
Only downside is the logo being 150k, which is going to chew up my data rate. Potentially you could downscale the image quality, unless I’m the only 3rd world browser with these kinds of problems (hi from South Africa, surprised there are more Kenyans than us).
Looks like a combination between Barca and Athletico Madrid …
Hi Andy, the initiative to change and improve the blog is a good one.I suppoese ,Its shud be a surprise xmas gift for all Gooners in this Blog then. The whole change in overall looks perfect and there’s nothin I can say but Its just Good looking, more spacy and more neat!!.
However, I must admit that I also agree with the other guys above about The Logo being more Barca-like.There’s nothing wrong abt it thou as it reflects more on the club’s history based upon the colors significance. My suggestion is : Why not use these significant colors as a background of the Top banner title (Use the barca-like mix color instead of the maroon) and use the usual Arsenal Logo as the Blog’s Logo.You can also include photos of players as soft layers background of the sgnificant colors on Top.I dunno, its just a suggestion but i think that you are the only one who can decide on it.
Oh i forgot, Well done for all ur achievement on this blog.
Keep it up mate.
Like the logo, pity about the Barcelona and Sunderland colours, when did the Gunners ever play in red and white stripes? The cannon is fine though.
Wow, this is great. Well done Andy.
Very ‘pro’ looking. I prefer the old warm look but this new layout is very user friendly.
Sorry Andy, I know you used to be spanishfry and all, but really, the crest is absolutely barca + sevilla.
I hope you don’t add a picture of a cock in your crest. next…..
Oh! no.. it looks like Barca’s
I prefere to remain with the old Blog
Hi Gunners this is a great design cheers!!!
more barca look than any other club. I believe with this design Cesc won’t leave any more?
It’s very smart. I like it. Don’t mind the ‘Barca’ colours at all. Has a kInd of International look to it which is in keeping with Arsenal’s current status – globally supported. We’re by far the greatest team – the world has ever seen.
Nice one, Andrew. It’s better. The flags are very tiny on my screen as is the text in this comment box. Is that something I can adjust? Me eyesight ain’t what it used to be.
I meant the comment box you actually write in. (see above)
Cool design bro,well done.
andy great work dude its appreciated by all no doubt….i like the crest,its shortsighted to see other teams in the concept youv tried to promote.just one thing tho,how do we get our photos beside our names,im not exactly a computer whiz
Nice design, cleaner and more professional looking, in my opinion. Looks like a site that has been carefully put together, which always gives a superb first impression (you’d be surprised how quickly a judgement is made!).
And I know how long these things take to sort out, so congratulations on that.
I actually like the colour scheme, feels old school Arsenal to me which is a nice nod to history. The only thing I’m wondering is – where’s the link to the podcasts?
Top work Andy.
barca n sunderland mix
Hi Andy,
Great new blog with all the symbols including the badge which as you say I am sure to grow to like over time with the story behind it and especially also the flags represented. Arsenal FC is the best supported EPL club in Kenya due to our unique style of play, team line up and great manager and your blog is well appreciated here. Keep it up.
hey mate, not sure on the shield, reminds me of stoke and Barcelona all rolled into one. lol. keep up the good work!
cheers
Thanks to everyone for commenting. I’ll address a few of the concerns:
(1) The South African flag should very much be part of the banner – that it is not there was simply an error. I had planned to have it and it must have just been forgotten in the notes. Apologies to the RSA readers – I’ll get this up soon.
(2) The text in the comments is a little small. I will look to enlarge it. Additionally, the comment text is a little bit too light – I’ll have this made to be a darker shade of grey to ensure it is easy to read.
(3) The logo seems to be dividing opinion which I think is great. As I’ve said earlier I’ve played around with a lot of combinations of those colours and this one looks visually the best. I wanted to represent the Arsenal colours in a unique way that – as Hey Nonny Mouse pointed out – gives the blog an international flavour. After all, the international mix of readers is exactly what makes this blog so special.
(4) Once I figure out the way to upload avatars I will pass it on. Can anyone help out the readers with this?
Overall though the changes seem to be being embraced, which is great. Onwards and upwards!
@ Evo – Good honesty, hah.
A bit late but I for one like the logo. Where is the T-shirt along with the Football Nomad Tee as well?
@Andy, I really like it. Simple, easy on the eye and to navigate. I like the alternative shades you use for successive comments.
May be you’re Barca’s fan in desgise, but since there is history behind it I guess you’re forgiven.
@Andy, did you delibrately lose the time? It was fascinating to see Aussie time every time I post. It gives me an idea what time of the day it is at your part of the world. You are way ahead of US central time.
I’m sad that there is no Irish flag! The powerhouse of world football. Where would villa be at the moment without THE SHARK Richard Dunne?
I think with regard to the avatar, you need to sign up to gravatar, which then carries your picture across to any other blog you post on that supports gravatar software (most do). I joined up ages ago and it seems to have remembered the avatar I chose back then for these posts.
http://en.gravatar.com/
@ GetGunMN – No, it wasn’t deliberate. Just the theme I had doesn’t support it. Sorry about that!
Enemy Airships is correct. You must use the gravatar website to get one.
Thanks for the relaunch we appreciate all efforts being made to make us feel better
Who designed the logo….there is bit of barca n stoke in it….
looks great andy. thanks
I like the redesign of the site, but i dont like the badge you have used. As soon as i looked at the badge, i thought of Barca because of the colours. Needs more red and white imo =)
FANTASTIC…..
First of all I wish you all of Arsenal funs a merry chrismas and a happy new year
Acording to my point of veiw I think that the design is most fantastic than never and even haappy and proud for the design eveen if it similer to the one of Baca
Notthing more only greeting
TANKYOU
Though I read every single post, I hardly end up coming to the website, since I’m subscribed by RSS.
I like the new look but have to agree with the others that logo has too much of Barca in it
I love the thinking behind it though! Same with the idea of the flags. Nice touch!
Congratulations on the revamp & here’s wishing you Happy Holidays, & a good December for the Arsenal!
Excellent job Andy!!
I must say I really like the new design, it’s sleek, easy on the eye and quite professional looking! The logo is surely a different one, but I think it’s cool and unique! If I am to nitpick it’d have to be the Atletico-themed stripes, I’d prefer half red/half white or something non-stripey
But either way, I’m sure it’ll grow on me!
A couple of things though;
- Why did you remove the Comment timestamps? I always like to see when people made their posts…
- How do the avatars work? Does everyone just get assigned a random avatar? I see that someone has their picture as an avatar, how is this possible? If I am to suggest something, it’d be an ‘Avatar’ section in the comment posting area, where you could either choose an avatar or press a button to upload one.
All in all, very good work! This blog is just becoming more and more enjoyable
look so fantastic ,
and Tanzanian fans were so happy!
@ Berrern – Thanks for the kind words. I know you’ve been reading for a LONG time
I’ll explain the Avatar stuff shortly – basically it can be done by uploading a picture following the link I put in my last comment.
i think it is going to take some time getting used to, but probably better