Arsenal FC Launches Junior Gunners App
Premier League side Arsenal has launched an interactive children’s app for its young supporters, becoming the first club in the top flight to launch a mobile app specifically for children.
Users can play Arsenal themed games, starting by creating their own avatar from over 174 customisation options. One of the app’s games is ‘Pocket Player’, featuring digital avatars of three Arsenal players; Hector Bellerin, Mesut Ozil and Theo Walcott. The ‘Pocket Players’ live in four areas within a virtual Arsenal world; the changing room and pitch at Emirates Stadium, the canteen, where users can feed the players from food served at the Arsenal Training Ground, and a bedroom.
Children can also play ‘Squad Boss’ where they will manage their own six-a-side Arsenal team throughout the season and compete against their friends. There are a number of trophies to be won by completing challenges in both of these games and other areas of the app.
According to the club, the games aim to educate children and help them develop new skills, with the training element of the Pocket Player game helping develop hand-eye coordination and learning about nutrition and healthy foods.
Some Junior Gunners formed part of focus groups alongside their parents, with the app aimed at children aged four to ten. It is a free app with no in-app purchases and operates on a closed network so children cannot interact with strangers.
Anne-Lise Johnsen, Arsenal youth product manager, said: “With over 36,500 Junior Gunner members and even more young Arsenal fans round the world, we are proud to launch an app targeted specifically to them. We hope the Junior Gunners app will elevate the experience and engagement the club has with our fans of the future, not just here in North London, but globally.”
Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil added: “My avatar looks really good and so do Hector and Theo’s! They really look like us and I think some of our team-mates will be quite jealous. I hope the children really enjoy playing Pocket Player and all the other games on the app. I’m looking forward to having a go myself.”
