I had a near perfect day yesterday, the kind you dream about but rarely get. For the fourth year in a row I had the great privilege to go to Emirates Stadium here in London and watch my beloved Arsenal in action. They defeated Fulham 3-0 in a must-win game as they pursue their first Premier League title in twenty-two years.
It’s difficult to describe the love a person can feel for a team and the feeling you get when among your brother and sister fans. That I’ve only occasionally got to experience first-hand intensifies the experience manifold. My first Arsenal match in person was in 1973. I’ll never forget that day.
The missus and I left Berkeley Thursday afternoon opting to fly to London — no other options seemed realistic.
I used to love flying mostly because airplanes were taking me to new, exciting places. But I’m an old codger now and the inconveniences of long flights are more vexing. Especially the sleeping uncomfortably part. I prefer to sleep comfortably which is why at home I use a bed, pillows, sheets and comforter to do my snoozing.
In any event the plane landed safely then we got to sit in the runway for — ten minutes? Half an hour? Two years? — before we could get the hell off. And you know how long that takes.
But we found our hotel, had a bit of rest then went out for dinner. Fish and chips the first night in England, of course.
Yesterday was match day. Getting to the stadium via the underground is like getting any place in London via the underground : easy peasy. I arrived quite early as is my want and wondered around the stadium. I popped into the Arsenal superstore ( called The Armory) and made a few purchases. New hat, new key chain, four programs (one for me, three as gifts for others). Then into the stadium. Let me backtrack here. All day, in spite of coming events, I’d been painfully depressed. Depression doesn’t care where you are, what day it is or what you’re doing, it pounces then settles in when it wants to. But it can be combatted. Going to the match it began to ease, once I went through the turnstiles — poof! — it was gone.
I had a veggie dog then settled into my seat. This was the best seat I've ever had for an Arsenal match. Near midfield and only sixteen rows from the pitch. It was perfect weather for a match right smack in-between cool and warm. The match itself was perfect too. Arsenal scored early and often in the first half assuming a three-nil lead at the break. The atmosphere was incredible, The singing, the chants, the cheers. I soaked it up and loved every moment. I also loved seeing top professionals in action. It’s wonderful to watch them on TV but to see them in person is twice as nice. Arsenal boast some of the best players in the world such as Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel, William Saliba and my favorite Eberechi Eze.
While the first half was electric the second half was merely excellent as the Gunners held off any notions the visitors had of coming back into the game and continued to create chances of their own cruising to victory. More singing, more cheers. I was a happy boy and this morning I still very much am. We’re off in a few minutes to museums then tomorrow fly to Finland — the homeland.
It’s all good.
