In this July 20, 2006 photo, Arsenal football club mascot Gunnersaurus hugs an employee in the tunnel at the new Emirates Stadium in London. (ADRIAN DENNIS / AFP)

Arsenal supporters might have expected the departure of Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi on transfer deadline day but not their beloved club mascot.

Arsenal said Gunnersaurus will “always be an important part of the club” and will return when fans are allowed back at matches

According to British media reports, Gunnersaurus has been axed as part of cost-cutting measures at the club.

Jerry Quy, who has donned the dinosaur mascot at home matches since 1993, worked for the club and was let go as the role was deemed no longer necessary with no fans expected at the Emirates Stadium anytime soon amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gunnersaurus’ departure has not gone down with Arsenal supporters on social media, with the mascot trending sixth on Twitter in the UK.

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An online fundraiser on GoFundMe was started in solidarity with Quy and nearly 1,000 pounds (US$1,296.20) has already been raised.

“Gunnersaurus has been the Arsenal club mascot for 27 years. He’s a club icon and we cannot let him become extinct,” a statement on the page reads.

In August, Arsenal decided to layoff 55 staff members as a result of the financial impact of the pandemic but Quy, a part-timer, was not among them.

Arsenal refused to discuss personal staff information but said Gunnersaurus will “always be an important part of the club” and will return when fans are allowed back at matches.