Arsene Wenger has paid tribute to a fellow member of Gunners royalty, Superfan Maria Petri, who sadly passed away last week.
Maria was the embodiment of support, the representation not just of what it means to trust what you believe in through thick and thin, but to back that up through action.
Historic Gunners boss Arsene Wenger echoed those sentiments with a touching tribute on his instagram page:
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“My dear Maria. Your voice was our strength and our heart before the game.
“It was with deep shock and a profound sadness to hear of your passing away.
"Forever your positive attitude and support will be remembered at Arsenal. We all will miss you so much”
Words reflective of the man, and of the institution he sought to rebuild and uphold.
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The death of Maria was felt throughout the Arsenal community, with players, staff and fans alike all visibly emotional and ready to share their own memory of the super-fan and all that she represented.
Maria supported the club since the 1950s, and her positivity was infectious, felt at every single Arsenal game.
Always chanting at the top of her lungs and supporting her club.
She was the epitome of everything Arsenal represent and she will be dearly missed.
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Arsenal themselves honoured the legacy of Maria against Chelsea over the weekend, with a video tribute played in the Camping World stadium prior to kick off.
Additionally, the players donned black armbands throughout the match in remembrance of what she left behind, and the memories that will be cherished far beyond her death.
The players put on a performance that would have had Maria’s crowd-captivating smile radiating from above, charging to a 4-0 success over the blues.
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With the life-long love Maria help for the club, that was perhaps the best tribute the players could have given.
Topics: Arsenal, Arsene Wenger