Why are Arsenal wearing black armbands tonight against Chelsea?

ARSENAL are wearing black armbands in their match against Chelsea.

The Gunners are paying their respects at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League clash.

Arsenal are wearing black armbands against ChelseaGETTY

Why are Arsenal wearing black armbands?

Arsenal are wearing black armbands in tribute to their former chairman, Sir Chips Keswick, who passed away this week aged 84.

During his time with the Gunners he oversaw the team winning four FA Cups, with his final year fittingly seeing the team win the 2020 FA Cup as he stepped down in May of that year.

Keswick became the chairman of the north London side in 2013 having initially joined the club’s board alongside Lord Harris in November 2005.

An Arsenal statement announcing the sad news read: “It is with great sadness that the club reports the death of former Chairman, Sir Chips Keswick.

The Gunners are paying tribute to Sir Chips KeswickGetty – Contributor

“A lifelong Arsenal supporter, he was a regular at Highbury after first standing in the boys’ enclosure in 1949 and listed his early heroes as the Compton brothers and Jimmy Logie but, above all, goalkeeper – and later manager – George Swindin, as young Chips was a budding schoolboy keeper himself.

“Retirement allowed him to spend more time with his beloved family as well as indulge in his other great sporting passion, horse racing – he was a respected owner of numerous racehorses over the years. 

“Sir Chips will be greatly missed by everyone at Arsenal who knew him and we extend our deepest sympathies to his wife Lady Sarah and their children David, Tobias and Adam.”

Keswick had previously been a vice-chairman of Hambros bank between 1986 and 1998 and knighted by the Queen for services to banking in 1993.

He was known to be a keen racehorse owner and owned some with the Queen.

Keswick won the Cheltenham Festival Novices’ Handicap Chase in 2014 with Present View, trained by Jamie Snowden, but missed it because Arsenal were playing in Europe.

Upon his retirement as the most powerful man at Arsenal in 2020, Keswick said at the time: “It has been an honour to be the chairman of this great football club.

“Arsenal has always held a special place in my life and that will remain the case in the future.”