A Tribune picture from the first day at the Emirates Stadium 20 years ago

LEAGUE  champions Arsenal look set for a windfall with new stadium and shirt deals on the way – and there is a familiar sponsor ready and waiting.

Although there was no official announcement from the club this week, speculation was mounting that the Fly Emirates airline is set to extend its naming rights for the Gunners’ home ground in N5. The negotiations come as the stadium reached its 20th birthday this week.

The milestone was reached on Wednesday, which was two decades on from the day that fans first took their seats for a testimonial match against Ajax Amsterdam played in honour of club legend Dennis Bergkamp.

The Dutch master said that day: “It is a step forward. Maybe some of the fans don’t see it that way but it is. A club like Arsenal deserves a stadium like this and I am a little sorry that I won’t be a part of it.”

The first league match at the start of the 2006/07 season was the visit of Aston Villa a couple of weeks later

It represented the final stage of Arsenal’s move from its classic Highbury stadium after 93 years due to the need to accommodate more fans on matchdays – the capacity was almost twice as big.

That figure could go higher with the arrival of safe standing areas in the coming years, and other enhancements are being discussed.

Some fans still call the ground Ashburton Grove – the name of the site it was built on – but Emirates has bagged the rights to the name since Day One.

The company is also expected to renew its long-term shirt sponsor deal with the title winners.