"I'M NOT A VAMPIRE, HONEST!"

Arsenal street artist Northbanksy has gained fame for his murals, after a terrible misunderstanding almost led to his demise

- Interview Nick Callow

Three decades ago, Arsenal's North Bank was famously replaced by a giant mural for a full season during redevelopment work at Highbury. More recently, a few more Arsenal-inspired murals have been popping up in north London. The artist's name? Northbanksy, of course.

Inspired by the legendary Banksy, a mysterious street artist who's long been daubing walls around the UK, the Gunners fan's moniker was always going to stick after his guerilla artwork began to be spotted alfresco, too.

Some of his original works included a not particularly subtle 'KROENKE OUT' slogan, railing against Arsenal's American owner. Photos swamped social media - when more graffiti appeared, admirers shared updates on what 'Northbanksy' had been up to. Clockendbanksy wouldn't really have worked as well, after all.

For a while, the man himself didn't even realise he'd earned a nickname. “I asked my pals 'Who's Northbanksy?' he tells FFT now. “They said, 'You are! That's what everyone is calling you'.”

His work is rather more positive these days, endearingly depicting past and present players, fans, boss Mikel Arteta and other staff, in the vicinity of the Emirates Stadium. Even set-piece coach Nicolas Jover has his own mural.