Ian Wright reunites with Arsenal mascot Gunnersaurus in hilarious advert celebrating Barclays' new sponsorship deal with women's football
Ian Wright is reunited with Arsenal mascot Gunnersaurus in a new mockumentary-style advert celebrating Barclays' new sponsorship deal with women's football.
The former England striker, 60, who scored 185 goals for the Gunners, is filmed reading a newspaper inside a reception area at Canary Wharf when he greets the 7ft Arsenal stalwart, plus 13 other club mascots, who bundle into the Barclays office building to 'sign, seal and deliver the deal' as representatives of their respective teams.
The mascots, including Crystal Palace's Alice the Eagle, Liverpool's Mighty Red the Liver Bird and Manchester United's Fred the Red are seen struggling to navigate office life by getting stuck in revolving doors and sparking confusion with security passes, before piling into meeting rooms and busy lifts.
The deal sees Barclays secure a multi-year sponsorship of the Barclays Women's Super League and Barclays Women's Championship to 2028.
The terms double their investment from the previous contract term, making it the biggest deal in women's domestic football history.
Ian Wright is reunited with Arsenal mascot Gunnersaurus in a new mockumentary-style advert celebrating Barclays ' new sponsorship deal with women's football
The former England striker, who scored 185 goals for the Gunners, is filmed reading a newspaper inside a reception area at Canary Wharf when he greets the 7ft Arsenal stalwart
The mascots, including Crystal Palace's Alice the Eagle, Liverpool's Mighty Red the Liver Bird and Manchester United's Fred the Red are seen struggling to navigate office life
Wright has been a big advocate of women's game and is a regular pundit for Lioness matches.
Speaking about the new deal, the Arsenal legend said: 'We constantly talk about the sustainability of women's football and the need for increased investment and long-term partners to truly accelerate the growth. Barclays are once again leading the way with their commitment.
'This investment is exactly what's needed to not only continue the growth but to ensure the game is sustainable for future generations.'
Wright's comments about the future of women's football went viral following England's semi-final win over Sweden during the 2022 European Championships, which the Lionesses went onto win for the first time.
Passionately urging the sport to kick on following the success of Sarina Wiegman's side, Wright, who was speaking as a pundit live on BBC1 at the time, said: 'Whatever happens in the final now, if girls are not allowed to play football just like the boys can in their P.E. after this tournament then what are we doing?
'We've got to make sure that they are able to play and get the opportunity to do this because it's going to inspire a lot of people.
'If there's no legacy to this, like what we saw with the [2012] Olympics, if there's no legacy after this then what are we doing? Because girls should be able to play.
'This is the proudest I've ever felt of any England side. This is what it's all about.'
Wright stepped down from his role on Match of the Day earlier this year having first appeared as a pundit in 1997
Explaining why he left the show, he explained: 'It's time. I had a dear friend who said that sometimes you've got to know when to step back, change, rest, have a break, and say no'
Wright stepped down from his role on Match of the Day earlier this year having first appeared as a pundit in 1997.
Explaining why he left the flagship show, the ex-Crystal Palace star explained: 'It's time. I had a dear friend who said that sometimes you've got to know when to step back, change, rest, have a break, and say no – it's just time.
'The way I am now, because I have to get back to London [after filming] it's like 3.30am in the morning – it's a long day. I leave at 8am in the morning and get back at 12am [midnight].
'I don't want to stay over in Manchester. I used to but there are personal reasons why I always want to get back home [after filming]. Especially, when you're on Match of the Day, you're live and I've had a massive problem before with people knowing where you are, so I always want to get back home to the Missus and the girls
'It just takes me two to three days after that to get ready and there are other things I'm doing which I just haven't got the energy for sometimes.
'I'm getting older, I just want to make sure I use the time well and efficiently for myself and at the moment, Match of the Day is the one that if something had to go, it had to be that.'
