A trip to see The Arsenal once more!
It starts how it always does for me, on a sleeper train from Glasgow leaving just before midnight. This time, I’m travelling with my ‘Better Half’. With the promise of seeing her idol, Kieran Tierney, she was off to have her first experience of being at The Emirates to watch The Arsenal play ….
…. Oh, how that promise would be broken.
Once in the Capital, our first destination is the Harry Potter Studios. The things I do to see the Arsenal, but the only magic I’m interested in seeing will be coming from Emile Smith Rowe.
Next up, a pre-booked tour of Camden Brewery to learn just how much Jasper, the creator, loves the Arsenal as much as anyone. Of course, they brand their beer, North London is Red.
We met two young couples there, a pair of Brighton fans and a Chelski lad with his Arsenal-supporting wife. After explaining why we were down, she was astonished at the commitment OUR Supporters Club gives to support Arsenal – a sentiment later echoed by the gentleman sat next to us in the Emirates. He lives in the old Highbury; muchly jealous, by the way.
After a few more than intended, it was time to leave our new pals and head off. Catching the London Overground to Highbury, it was a short walk up to the stadium, a journey full of both sets of fans in good spirts, ready to watch what everyone thought would be a close encounter.
There seems a more positive outlook from our support: have we trusted the process, is it starting click? Granted, the last two matches weren’t great, but there’s a team in there ready to put a run together. Cries of “Lacca, Lacca, Lacca” came from several different groups as we passed, everyone excited to see Auba and Lacca start together. Let’s face it, he was the positive spark against Palace.
Waiting outside The Armoury for John with our tickets, we enjoyed a brief chat with Alan, the ASSC Treasurer.
But then, along with all this good news, comes tragedy for the Missus. KT is injured and not in the squad. It was like telling a kid that Christmas had been cancelled … Her conciliation prize, thinking quickly, a Kieran Tierney scarf!
Then, finally, it was game time.
The views from our seats at the Clock End were cracking, second from last row in the top left-hand corner.
The Missus couldn’t believe just how amazing the stadium actually is.
Our fans are in full voice from the get-go …. ARSENNALLLLL, ARSENNALLLLL. Anything to drown out the Away support. A dominant first half display unfolds. Partey finally gets his goal; you could feel how excited the fans were for him. Maybe, just maybe, he kicks on from this.
With Half Time looming, we join the early leavers for pints of Camden. But wait, drama with VAR and it finally dons red-tinted glasses and we get a decision in our favour. Fans ditching pints run back upstairs expecting to see Lacazette bury yet another penalty. But it’s Auba stepping up instead. Of course, Emi saves it, but then the ball comes back out and Auba makes it Two Nil to The Arsenal. Luck? Maybe?
That settled, pints can finally be consumed. The second half was a more even affair. A third goal from Emile Smith Rowe and then a screamer from someone called Ramsay. Even with that, watching Ramsdale’s reaction to conceding anything tells me we have a great young goalie who is hungry for success and perfection, something you just don’t get screaming from Leno’s personality. Rightly, the chant of “Aaron Ramsdale, he’s better than you”, aimed at our former goalkeeper, shows just how well the fans have taken to him since his questionable summer transfer into the Club.
Full Time and I’m greeted with the question, “When can we come back”. I think she’s hooked, or is it that, maybe, she just wants to see Kieran Tierney play. Only she knows. All I know is I’m probably going to need another membership form.
Stewart McLachlan