Most Arsenal fans know the name Emmanuel Petit as a midfield lynchpin who formed a crucial part of the club’s first-ever league title under Arsène Wenger; thus making up the first chapter in a beautiful footballing story. He is also, however, quite the chef – and you could soon spend a day with the man himself, learning about his skills on the pitch and in the kitchen.
Sharing the kitchen and then a round table discussion with an Arsenal legend might not have featured in your end-of-year planning, but now the opportunity to hang out with Petit – cooking, eating, and learning intricate facts about his footballing career – might sound too good to miss for certain Gunners fans. On December 2, it’s time to take to the kitchen and spend your day with Emmanuel Petit.
Big day out with Petit
Petit was an expert in timing and reading of the game on the pitch, but can he perform with the same grace and skill in the kitchen? You’ll need to see for yourself, as the first order of play in your day out will be about cookery.
Chef Petit will be joined by a professional cook to lead a class where you are challenged to outdo him, or have him fix your dishes, as he shows you his French flair and style. Once you’ve worked up a sweat in the kitchen, you’ll enjoy a sit-down lunch and drinks with Emmanuel Petit and the rest of the class.
Then it’ll be time for the Q&A event later that evening with Manu Petit. At an intimate round table discussion with 30 people, you’ll be able to ask your burning questions to the footballing legend before an exclusive one-on-one moment to share footballing memories and stories. See what he makes of Arsenal’s chances against Rúben Amorim’s Manchester United just days after the event; before inevitably delving into what made his midfield partnership with Patrick Vieira so pivotal to Arsenal’s success. And of course, you’ll no doubt be touching on 1998.
A year that’ll no doubt break Petit out in a grin, 1998 marked the end of his first season at Arsenal (where Arsène Wenger signed him for the second time… anyone that man signs twice must have something about them) when silverware returned to the Gunners in the form of Wenger’s first Premier League and FA Cup double.
It didn’t end there for the midfielder(-turned cook), though. Just months later, he formed a key part of France’s first-ever World Cup win, before continuing their hot streak at the Euros in 2000. In short: he’s won a hell of a lot at the highest of levels, and you can hear all about his time at Monaco, Arsenal, Barcelona, Chelsea, and the French national team with the legend himself in December.
Once you’ve had an close-up look into his career and cooking skills, you can take home a memory of the day as Manu Petit sits down to sign your football jerseys or club merch and hear your own Arsenal anecdotes in a one-on-one moment with each fan to cap off the day hearing all about footballing glory.