David Seaman and Aaron Ramsdale at The Chip Inn with Zulfu Gokmen

A FISH and chip seller who has been serving up dinners for 25 years had an unexpected boost when Arsenal turned up with cameras to film a special advert for his shop.

The promotion for The Chip Inn on the Holloway Road, which has already been watched tens of thousands of times online this week, involves goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale ordering some food and then listening to customers chant “your chips, ahhh” – a funny twist on a rather more rude version used by supporters to distract him when taking goal kicks.

David Seaman, the double-winning keeper who Ramsdale is looking to emulate after signing for the Gunners, also has a cameo, ordering a saveloy.

Ramsdale’s delight as the chips arrive

Owner Zulfu Gokmen, known to his loyal customers as Joseph, appears too. He works with his son Murat, who joined the business two years ago.

“It’s something that no other club has done before,” said Murat. “It is a huge step for Arsenal and the people that love and respect them. This is what people need right now.”

Arsenal has already run similar high-grade adverts for businesses which are unlikely to be able to afford such promotions this season and sees it as a way of helping traders who have been hurt by the Covid crisis and the loss of matchday income when matches were played behind closed door.

Zulfu and Murat Gokmen

The Chip Inn was established in 1962, with Joseph joining later on after selling his previous restaurant, Sofos, next to the Odeon also on the Holloway Road.

Initially joining to help friends run the shop, in the early 2000s he took over the lease and became the owner himself.

Talking about his father, Murat Gokmen said: “He is a really hands-on guy who likes to work from the bottom of his heart. He just wants to put his own effort in. As a result, he always comes out with great service and food for the customers.”

The Chip Inn Fish Bar

He added: “My dad offered David Seaman some fish and chips, at first he joked ‘hold on, let me ask my manager’. After that they ate chips.”

Next on the agenda for the business is a refit – but before dismantling their famous deep-fat fryer, they handed out 100 free meals last night (Thursday), as Arsenal faced Wolves, to say their own thanks to the Gunners fans. Previous adverts have seen Rob Holding pop into the Tollington pub for a pint and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang drive his car into the Autoparts repair shop.