Gunnersaurus saga shows impact of COVID on football communities

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

VIDEO SHOWS: STILL PHOTOGRAPHS OF GUNNERSAURUS, ARSENAL MASCOT / B-ROLL OF EXTERIORS OF EMIRATES STADIUM/ INTERVIEW WITH ARSENAL FAN ROBBIE LYLE / MESUT OZIL TRAINING / TWEET FROM OZIL AND SEVILLA

SHOWS:

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1. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF GUNNERSAURUS, ARSENAL MASCOT, WITH FANS AT EMIRATES STADIUM

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2. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF GUNNERSAURUS WITH FA CUP

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3. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF GUNNERSAURUS WITH FANS AT EMIRATES STADIUM

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4. VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF EMIRATES STADIUM

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5. SOUNDBITE (English) ROBBIE LYLE, FOUNDER OF ARSENALFANTV, SAYING:

"What has been disappointing is that we had a great transfer window, we actually did brilliantly on Monday (October 5) and brought in some good signings, but this is also happening at the same time and you are thinking 'Why?'. It is almost like a bit of an own goal this whole Gunnersaurus saga. And I kind of look beyond the whole mascot thing, because I think they are not getting rid of Gunnersaurus. There is still going to be the mascot, there is still going to be that. So that has been a bit false, what has been put out there. But what I look beyond and I look at, is the guy who has actually lost his job. I actually know that guy, I have met him many, many times at Arsenal. And he is a great servant to the club. He has been around the club for years and years and years."

6. WHITE FLASH

7. SOUNDBITE (English) ROBBIE LYLE, FOUNDER OF ARSENALFANTV, SAYING:

"I just ask myself, I know there is a pandemic going on, and I know it is really sad, lots of people are losing jobs up and down the country, but I just look on it and think is there not a way in which they could have found a way for him to keep his job, or could they not just lay him off and then bring him back when the pandemic is over? Because guys like him, they are the salt and the earth of Arsenal football club. They are the history of this club. They are the people that keep it alive. They are coming from the days of Highbury. They have done so much and given up so much time for the club. What I understand is that the Gunnersaurus thing was originally done by him voluntarily. So it is really, really sad news that he has lost his job."

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8. STILL PHOTO OF GUNNERSAURUS PLAYING WITH BALL ON PITCH

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9. STILL PHOTO OF GUNNERSAURUS OUTSIDE EMIRATES STADIUM WITH CHILDREN

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10. SCREENSHOT OF TWEET POSTED TO MESUT OZIL'S TWITTER ACCOUNT IN WHICH HE OFFERS TO PAY JERRY QUY'S SALARY

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11. SCREENSHOT OF TWEET POSTED TO SEVILLA'S TWITTER ACCOUNT ANNOUNCING THEY HAD SIGNED GUNNERSAURUS ON TRANSFER DEADLINE DAY

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12. VARIOUS OF MESUT OZIL TRAINING WITH ARSENAL

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13. SOUNDBITE (English) ROBBIE LYLE, FOUNDER OF ARSENALFANTV, SAYING ON MESUT OZIL:

"Listen, first of all it is great that he has done that as a gesture. It is fantastic that he has done that as a gesture. But some people would argue and say that he didn't take a pay cut in the first place when they were asking players to take a pay cut to help to pay for staff. But then I suppose then he could also argue this is exactly why I didn't take a pay cut because that money is not being used to save the jobs of people like this."

14. WHITE FLASH

15. SOUNDBITE (English) ROBBIE LYLE, FOUNDER OF ARSENALFANTV, SAYING ON MESUT OZIL:

"So it is nice that Mesut Ozil has done that as a gesture. Obviously, there are deeper problems with Mesut Ozil and the club and some people look on it and say that it is a bit cynical and that, but I will just take it at face value as it is, and he is just helping this guy. I think the guy will be feeling better, at least someone has appreciated what he has done, because he has done so much for this club over the years."

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16. STILL PHOTO OF GUNNERSAURUS WITH CHELSEA MASCOTS AT EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL

STORY: The redundancy of the man behind Arsenal's Gunnersaurus mascot has generated newspaper headlines - and social media memes - around the world this week.

But it has also highlighted how the coronavirus pandemic is beginning to affect the fabric of football clubs, with even those among the richest in the world unable to fully insulate against it.

Jerry Quy, who had a role as an away supporters liason as well as entertaining home fans at the Emirates Stadium as the green dinosaur, was recently let go by the club due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to British media reports.

On Tuesday (October 7), midfielder Mesut Ozil offered to pay his salary, while supporters have been critical of the club's stance.

Ozil, one of the club's highest paid players but who has also fallen out of favour with coach Mikel Arteta, said on Twitter: "I was so sad that Jerry Quy aka our famous & loyal mascot @Gunnersaurus and integral part of our club was being made redundant after 27 years."

Robbie Lyle, the face of ArsenalFanTV, said the news felt like an "own goal" and showed the impact COVID is having on club finances.

"Guys like him, they are the salt and the earth of Arsenal football club. They are the history of this club. They are the people that keep it alive," he said.

"They are coming from the days of Highbury. They have done so much and given up so much time for the club. What I understand is that the Gunnersaurus thing was originally done by him voluntarily. So it is really, really sad news that he has lost his job."

Although Quy lost his job, the Gunnersaurus mascot will be back once fans are allowed into stadiums again.

In a statement emailed to Reuters, Arsenal said: "We won't be discussing individual colleagues but our club mascot Gunnersaurus still exists. Gunner is an important part of the club, who is loved by our fans around the world."

(Production: Iain Axon)