Fiszman joined the Arsenal board in 1992

Arsenal have announced that director Danny Fiszman has died at the age of 66 after a long battle against illness.

The businessman joined the board in 1992 and recently reached an agreement with Kroenke Sports Enterprises over the sale of his shares.

Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood paid tribute to Fiszman and said: "Danny was a visionary director, a gentleman and a true Arsenal fan.

"We are all deeply saddened by the loss of our dear friend Danny."

Hill-Wood added: "His voice, wisdom and presence around the football club he so dearly loved will be sorely missed.

"Arsenal Football Club will forever be indebted to Danny for his invaluable foresight and contribution during the move from Highbury to our new stadium.

"Our thoughts at this time are with Danny's wife Sally, family and friends. We have lost a much-loved husband, father, grandfather and friend."

Danny's unwavering commitment to Arsenal and the sport of football was amazing and inspiring. He taught me so much about the proud history and traditions of Arsenal Stan Kroenke

Fiszman played a pivotal role in Arsenal's move from Highbury to Emirates Stadium in 2006 and forged a close friendship and working relationship with Gunners manager Arsene Wenger.

But the Swiss-based diamond dealer was forced to reduce his day-to-day involvement with the club while fighting cancer and recently sold his 16.1% shareholding to American businessman Stan Kroenke.

"Danny's unwavering commitment to Arsenal and the sport of football was amazing and inspiring," said Kroenke, now Arsenal's majority shareholder.

"He taught me so much about the proud history and traditions of Arsenal. We not only lost a great business leader but a good friend. Our thoughts and condolences are with his family at this difficult time."

Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis commented: "I am very sad. Danny was much loved at Arsenal, not just for his extraordinary vision and commitment driving our club forward but because he was a respectful gentleman whose passion for Arsenal was at the heart of everything he did.

"We will miss him deeply. I am honoured to have worked with Danny and I know that the many Arsenal staff who knew him at the club share this sentiment."

Islington-born managing director Ken Friar, 76, who has been working for Arsenal since the age of 1950, added: "Danny did an enormous amount for this club.

"He came on the board in 1992 and he was a visionary director. He and I became very close friends, we travelled to all the away matches together and in the year 1999 we first embarked upon the new stadium project.

"He and I were delegated by the board to lead that and I really could not have had a better person to work with. He was highly intelligent, he was good at everything he did and I was very fond of him. He was a very special man."

Arsenal have honoured Fiszman and Friar by naming bridges outside the Emirates Stadium after each man.

At a ceremony planned for some time and that went ahead with Fiszman's blessing before he passed away, Hill-Wood stated: "These two men have had a huge impact on Arsenal.

"This is a small way of recognising their efforts and ensuring their passion and commitment to this great football club will be remembered through time."

The North Bridge, which joins the ground to Drayton Park, close to Arsenal tube station, has been renamed The Ken Friar Bridge and the South Bridge, which contains giant concrete 'ARSENAL' letters at one end, has been renamed 'The Danny Fiszman Bridge'.

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