The French International met pupils to play a five-a-side game and took part in training exercises with the group of youngsters eager to get to school before first bell to take part.
As part of the sport offering, Arsenal in the Community coaches have been running these weekly sessions at Haverstock Hill School for three years. The session is to encourage children to arrive at school punctually and participate in 45 minutes of exercise.
This is one of the many sporting activities Arsenal offers and it’s not just football the department delivers. Basketball, hockey, judo, table tennis, hockey, badminton and bowls for senior citizens all feature among the Club’s range of sporting activities offered.
Speaking at the event Bacary said: “It’s great to see the work of Arsenal in the Community in action. I’ve participated in quite a few education and sporting schemes and the work is just fantastic. I enjoy meeting participants on the schemes – it helps put the Arsenal connection into context for them.
“This week gives players another chance to see the work that takes place in the community and meet participants who are proudly associated with the Club.
Nikki Haydon, Director of community partnerships and extended services at Haverstock Hill School added: “The students who come, come regularly and this has ensured their regular and punctual attendance at school. They have learnt a lot about commitment because of the need to attend each week. The disappointment if a session has to be cancelled is very obvious.
"They are beginning to become aware that getting up early for some healthy and really enjoyable activity both enhances their self-esteem and confidence and also encourages them to do well both in sports and in the classroom.”
Aaron Ramsey
March 4
Aaron was stretchered
off during Arsenal's 3-1
win at Stoke on Saturday
after sustaining
fractures to the tibia
and fibula in his right
leg. He had surgery the
following day and will
miss the rest of this
season. “It is too far
away to set any
realistic deadline [for
Ramsey to return],” said
Wenger speaking
exclusively to TV Online
on Thursday. “Let’s let
him heal. The good news
is the surgery went well
and it is not a
career-threatening
injury. But it is two
breaks and to get back
to your best you need
not only to practice
again but you need time
to recover your
co-ordination. He is a
young boy and he will
recover from this but it
is a bad injury."
Abou
Diaby
March 4
Abou missed the Premier
League clash with
Sunderland and did not
face Stoke either. His
knee injury could also
keep him out of
Saturday's game against
Burnley. "There is a
little, little chance
that Diaby could be
available again," said
Wenger. "He is 50:50."
William Gallas
March 4
William missed the games
against Porto,
Sunderland and Stoke and
his calf injury will
also keep him out of the
clash with Burnley on
Saturday. "Gallas is
still out," said Wenger
on Thursday.
Andrey
Arshavin
March 4
Andrey was substituted
in the 1-0 win over
Liverpool last month and
has not featured for
Arsenal since due to a
hamstring problem.
However, he could return
this weekend. "Arshavin
could be available,"
said Wenger ahead of the
Burnley game.
Denilson
March 4
Denilson was
unavailable for the trip
to Stoke City but could
return against Burnley
on Saturday.
"We have the luck that
Denilson could be
available again," Wenger
told Arsenal TV Online
on Thursday. "He did not
travel to Stoke last
week because he had an
injury to his calf.
Robin
Van Persie
February 25
Robin has
been out since November
after suffering ankle
ligament damage during
an international
friendly against Italy
and Arsène Wenger
believes he could be
back in an Arsenal shirt
by the end of April - if
his recovery goes to
plan. "I haven’t seen
Robin because he is in
Holland at the moment
but [early April] looks
to be a bit early,” said
Wenger on February 25.
Kieran
Gibbs
February 22
Arsène Wenger admits
that Kieran Gibbs could
return by the end of the
season after a second
operation on the broken
metatarsal he suffered
during the game against
Standard Liege on
November 24. “There is a
little chance [that
Gibbs will be fit before
the end of the season]
if all goes well now,”
said Wenger on February
25.
Johan
Djourou
February 25
Johan suffered a knee
injury while on
international duty in
August and is expected
to return to action in
two months time. "It is
still two months for
Johan," said Wenger on
Thursday, February 4.
"We have to be patient
with him. He is working
well and progressing
well. But he is not an
immediate resource."