Many Arsenal fans attribute that Arsenal’s decline started when we moved out of “Fortress Highbury” to our swanky new premises which is now the Emirates.
Although we may make more money with the extra seats and facilities, we have lost the atmosphere that cheered on our Invincible side, and many say we have moved into “The Library” and have lost our soul.
This video, produced by “Location, Location” gives you a tour of the new surroundings so you can see which parts of our old home have been preserved.
This Is What Happened To Arsenal’s Highbury Stadium
(With thanks to Ken1945, who suggested that the JustArsenal readers would like to view and discuss this…. )
I thought the atmosphere at Highbury was good but it was always referred to as the Highbury Library so not a lot seems to have changed in that respect. It’s very nostalgic walking around inside the old stadium gardens and looking up at the front row West stand where our seats were for many years. We often take a wander around there on some match days before going around the corner to the Emirates.
Great video that helps to bring back some wonderful memories.
Bag of oeanuts for 6p – police band marching up and down the pitch at half time – A-Z half time scores being put up manually – chattibg to the players as they collected the ball from the side of the pitch etc etc etc
I wonder how much the apartments are worth today?
Investigating now!!!!
Oh Ken – reading your comment put me there …. back home !
Fantastic you mention ” A-Z half time scores being put up manually ” – in the very corner of the North Bank (Avenel Road), half way up the terracing in line with the corner flag was my spot !
And did you ever see the band leader drop “his stick” ?
I can smell the peanuts now – shells everywhere.
1 bedroom from £475,000 up to £600,000
2 bedroom from £650,000 up to £775,000
All on Zoopla.
Surprised you haven’t snapped one up Ken to save your “little jaunt” !
I did suggest it to my wife AJ, but was met with complete indifference 😂😂😂
My spot, as a youngster, was also in the NB and making sure I was able to lean on the crash barrier for “comfort”!!!
I don’t think I ever ended up anywhere near that same position at the end of the game, but they were wonderful days.
I am in all in favour of nostalgia and memories . As an older fan, how could I ever think otherwise!
But the remorseless decline in our fortunes began a single year after we left Highbury in 2006 and had nothing whatever to do with leaving a 38000 stadium in favour of a 60000 one.
The extra revenue we have accrued since the move has amply compensated us, many times more too, for the cost of the stadium.
(Kroenke simply used that stadium cost to excuse his MEANNESS in refusing to allow Wenger sufficient money to allow replacements of equal top quality to replace those Invincibles as they moved on).
It has EVERYTHING to do with the day Dein was shafted by the traitorous directors in 2007 and KROENKE then coming in as controlling owner.
THAT is surely the reality and TRUE reason for our steady regression EVER SINCE 2007.
Wenger was thereafter forced to shop in the local store and no longer at HARRODS, so to speak!
He also had no longer the brilliant ,dynamic and decisive skills of his good friend and right hand man David Dein – the magnificent DD – to steer him in the right direction, as he had done so brilliantly up til he was shafted by the traitorous directors , esp Fitzman and Lady Nina,who let Kroenke take control!
Of course AW’s many poor buys were not all down to lack of money but MANY were.
I cannot imagine that AW would have FREELY CHOSEN such dross as Mustafi , Sokratis, Almunia , Xkaka and many others, IF he were given the money needed to buy REAL TOP PLAYERS.
For full context, I ALSO LAY A HUGE AMOUNT OF BLAME ON THE DISASTROUS GAZIDIS, WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN AND WOULD HAVE BEEN SACKED FAR EARLIER BY ANY OWNER WHO HAD HIS FINGER ON THE PULSE AND WHO CARED ABOUT WHO WAS MISRUNNING HIS CLUB SO DREADFULLY.
It is our tragedy that KROENKE DOES NOT CARE!
” I should never have sold my shares to Kroenke! Former Arsenal director Bracewell-Smith reveals ‘deep regret’ Arsenal majority shareholder Stan Kroenke has faced fresh criticism from former director Lady Bracewell-Smith, who tonight claimed she ‘deeply regrets’ allowing the American to take control of the club “.
Jon.
The above quote was made back in 2013 – look at our decline since !
Jon….. at last we can agree 100% with your assessment of Arsene Wenger.
I also agree with your views on everyone else you name in your post.
AJ’s comments below, regarding Bracewell-Smith, sums up the greed our previously renowned board succumbed too.
I have utter contempt for these money grabbing directors and the way they treated David Dein.
As you know, I view DD and AW as THE complete double act and when kronkie and the board sacked DD with immediate effect, our decline as a top club (performance related) was sealed.
That’s why I regard Wenger’s record after that day as a minor miracle…. but that’s my personal opinion.