I thought I try something different during this international break and give all readers a chance to share their memories with each other. The question is simple, what has been your favourite match day experience? It could be historic such as a Cup Final or have a meaning for a reason personal to you. If you have never been able to see the Gunners up close change the question, simply to the best game you have watched on TV. There is no right, or wrong answers so be friendly in the comments. If you don’t want to participate click on the next topic.
I am a red member at Arsenal, giving me the least priority for tickets. Due to finances and where I live, my trips to the Emirates average once a month. I have been lucky to be able to tell my grandchildren one day that I followed the gunners at Wembley. My choice though is a simple FA Cup third round tie.
It has nothing to do with Leeds United being the visitors and in fact the majority of the evening was a poor spectacle. At the time I was going through a difficult phase in my life. Football has an incredible ability to be an escape and comfort. Never was that more evidenced then this fixture. The selling point was the hope I might see Thierry Henry in the red and white one more time. This was not guaranteed. He had just returned on a short-term loan from America and wasn’t 100 per cent fit.
Our stadium has often been judged for its lack of atmosphere. So, you could notice something different when our greatest goal scorer started to warm up. 60 000 were sharing in the nostalgia. Minutes later, he cut in from the left, just like in his prime, to finish the fairy-tale. In that one moment, just for a few seconds, all my troubles left my mind, I was caught up in the moment. Escapism at its best.
Only sport has the power to do that, it’s hard to put into words, you either get it or you don’t. Don’t get me wrong I seen better classics in terms of the quality of an hour and a half entertainment, but it proved such a powerful moment.
It still has that magic when I watch it back on YouTube.
What game was your favourite?
Dan Smith
I loved going to Fulham back in 2013. It was my youngest son’s Birthday (he was 7) we were sat right near the front… so close to all the players (Podolski) it was lashing down, it was a really good game – we went on to win 3-1, with my Lukas scoring twice ❤ was buzzing!!
my favourite when don roper a left winger out played the great stanley mathews,ikant remember the date.
I have another.. the very first time I went to Highbury, back in 1999. I was 6 months pregnant with my 2nd baby.. I had my Arsenal top on with Petit on the back (bit tight though ?) when we walked out of the tube station, I had to stop & take everything in.. all those stalls selling scarves & t-shirts & thousands of gooners as far as the eye could see… I was in my element, so excited!! We got in the ground, found our seat – in the very front row, right on the corner. Omg Petit takes corners..I could be in touching distance… damn it he took the other one… was devastated ?? if only I’d worn a beret & some onions (hey Phil & Ken ?) he may have thrown me his top!! Ooh la la!! We went on to win 2-0… I was so tired when we got home, but so happy, to have finally watched my beloved Arsenal ?
Winning the FA Cup in 2014. We had gone a decade without a trophy so it was great relief and joyous. Then winning back to back in 2015 was amazing too
Actually getting Torreira and Guendouzi was an amazing feeling too because we would not have got them with Wenger and getting defensive midfielders showed that the old philosophy has gone and we are moving forward
Weirdly, the team wasn’t even in front of me for my favourite memory. 🙂
I was at the Emirates watching on giant screens the FA Cup final against Hull. Terrible start of the game trailing by two after 10ish minutes made it such a tense viewing!
The roars of the half filled Emirates stadium when we won felt amazing!
I had seen the semifinals that we won at penalties from Wembley and it was amazing too. Kim Kallstrom had his 15 of fame scoring his penalty too, which he said was one of the best memory of his career, being useful in that brief moment to allow Arsenal to then win the first silverware for a decade. 🙂
I am fortunate to have seen Arsenal play in EVERY Cup Final in my lifetime.I was there EVERY time we won the League so WHL 1971 ANFIELD 1989 OLD TRAFFORD 2002 WHL 2004 will always be memorable because we CLINCHED the title at these grounds.But memorable for myself must be Copenhagen 1994 and the Final of the ECWC against Parma.My son was 10 years old and my brother in law and myself took him to PSG away for the first leg of the semi-Final.So we just had to take him with us to the final.He was pretty much the centre of attention for 3 days while we were there and to this day we often talk about the time we had.I had lots of pals and aqcuantices we met up with and we spent most of our time in the bars with thousands of supporters who were there on the day before the game.
I rate this as the most memorable simply because it was the time I knew just how much he loved being a Gooner even at 10 years old.He was at the League and FA Cup finals the year before in 1993 at Wembley But Copenhagen was just something special.The fact we won made the occasion simply perfect and even now we look back at photographs of the trip.Memories.
Heartwarming story Phil. I have nothing family related to truly compete with this but for me two stand out above all others. Winning the title at WHL in May ’71 and Anfield May 1989. All trophies are great but nothing compares to the thrill of these two. If I have to chhose JUST one, on balance it must be Anfield, since we always needed just a 0-0 drew at WHL , which we already had going into the final few minutes and our goal changed nothing when it came to tension, whereas at Anfield we were lost without Mickeys final goal. All the Wenger trophies were expected at the time, even the FA CUP against Hull when two down and nearly three down, but for Gibbs headed clearance, early on. I expected us to win when we won the title at Old Trafford and in fact expected back in those days, to win every time we played. That was why the slump in Wengers last decade was all the harder to stomach compared to what glory went before.
I should have remembered the second Final win against Chelski was probably not expected at that time. The first one though definitely was.
Jon. you say our goal at White Hart Lane didn’t change the the tension but if you remember under the old goal average format where you divided the goals against into the goals for we won the league with a 0-0 draw but we lost the league to Leeds with a 1-1 draw. I know it was only a few minutes plus injury time to go (total of 6 or 7 minutes) but if you remember Tottenham went mad for the equaliser and came pretty close to getting one if not, as you pointed out previously, for the heroics of one Bob Wilson risking serious injury to keep our goal intact.
However, my greatest memory? Wow, there’s been so many, Highbury, May 1970, 1-3 down to Anderlecht, going for our first piece of silverware since 1953 is up there. Without doubt the greatest and noisiest night ever at Highbury, I was in the North Bank that night and noise was bouncing off the roof. A 3-0 win secured the victory. White Hart Lane, a year later, I was in the shelf that night and what a night it was. In those days you paid at the turnstile so first there, first in. Arsenal fans got there early and there were more Arsenal fans in the ground than Tottenham. Wembley, May’79 Manchester United in the Cup Final, 2-0 up and coasting with five minutes to go, suddenly it’s 2-2 and just as United fans are celebrating Alan Sunderland pops up with the winner. What a day that was, me and my mates had press passes and managed to get on the pitch and do the lap of honour with the players. Anyone with the ’79 video I’m dressed all in beige with dark glasses and long hair. Anfield ’89 was memorable but as much as I would like to say I was there, I wasn’t. Watched it on Television with half a dozen mates at my flat and when Michael Thomas scored everybody erupted. Paris in ’94 as Phil pointed out, fantastic. against all the odds. 1-0 to the Arsenal was born and I’ve not even got to Wenger’s first ten years and the Invincible era yet, which incidentally was without doubt the best football I’ve ever seen from an Arsenal side. Greatest memory? I think May ’69 beating Anderlecht, after waiting over ten years, the first silverware of my Arsenal supporting career. Greatest ever player, Dennis Bergkamp.
Correction: Sorry Copenhagen ’94
2nd Correction: Greatest memory I think May ’70 beating Anderlecht.
I as there too Kenny and thanks for the reminder. We lost the first leg away to them 3-1 and then won the second leg at Highbury 3-0 to give us the Fairs Cup which after many changes has eventually become the Europa League. I remember getting in the North Bank for I think 30 bob (£1.50 for the younger generation) and dancing on the pitch with thousands of others at the end. Great night.
I didn’t realise you were that old . No insult intended Declan!
I was there too!!! The atmosphere was electric! I was only a kid but that was one of the best nights of my life.
The game against Ajax in the semi i think, was just as good. Johann Cruyff!!!
Great article Admin and good idea to leave it on for a while. Love hearing everybody’s greatest memories not only us oldies but the youngsters as well.
Declan,
Just like to point out, the Fairs Cup (EUFA Cup) was even better and harder to win than the Europa League. In those days as you know the European Cup consisted of the winners only where as the Champions League now consists of the top three or four clubs across the leagues of Europe. I was a die hard North Bank fan in those days and never before or after was it so loud.
Kenny, been waiting for your imput so that you could take me back as if it was today!!!
Dennis Bergkamp was the absolute professional and I agree the best footballer ever to wear our shirt.
Also the comment about the best football ever seen, but not just from Arsenal, the best ever consistently brilliant football ever!!
As Jon says, we went to every match actually expecting to win and, even when (for example) Boro were beating us, we KNEW it was just a matter of time…fantastic memories and I feel so priviliged to have been around as it unfolded before our very eyes.
In some ways however, that era has become a millstone around our necks as comparisions and criticisms continue today.
I’m going to get out my VHS recording of the Arsenal / Utd game just to see if I can spot you running round Wembley…you lucky old s*d!!!!
I was also looking for your post Ken being the most experience person on these pages and having more memories than any of us. Love the one’s about your Arsenal room and Arsene’s tee shirt. Regarding the VHS/CD recording of the ’79 Cup Final I’m actually frozen between two Arsenal players holding the cup at the end of the recording as well as the lap of honour. We had press cards in those days that got us access to all events Football matches, Boxing, all sports events, night clubs, celebrity parties. We had a nick name of the press gang, very handy and a lot of fun the five or six years it lasted
I just looked it up on YouTube… I saw you on there Kenny!! ?
Thank you eagle eyed Sue, between years of about ’76 and ’85 we’d used to go to all the away games using the press cards but funny enough the only ground that never stood for them was Arsenal. they had their own passes, our club has always been smarter than the rest and still are.
Can’t be bad hey?! I bet you had some great times
Kenny, Quite true about WHL tension. What I MEANT WAS that the tension was already high as any late Spurs goal whether at 0-0 or 0-1 would have killed us. So no CHANGE. I should have phrased it more accurately. But what an incredible night. I got in the ground at around 5.30 and my kid brother climbed over the wall; my pal had his glasses knocked off when we scored and spent two or three minutes trying to find them -which he eventually did – and a number of us spent all night out celebrating and got ALL the papers at 4am from Kings Cross. Every detail is as sharp in my now ancient memory as though it happened just yesterday. All of us oldies could easily write a huge book of our many memories. I loved reading all your great memories so much and they were ALL wonderful. My most abiding memory of the Anderlecht final was Bob Wisons lap of honour – he wouldn’t leave the pitch. He is my all time Arsenal hero as a MAN. As a player , phew, it must be Dennis or Thierry , I can never decide which. But Geordie Armstrong was also a great favourite back them. In work rate he was the polar opposite to Walcott and Georges committment was a major reason why I could never stand the bone idle Walcott
Yes, I agree with you Jon, so many wonderful memories, I don’t know where to start. Wow! 5-30pm you was in the ground that night, I got in about 6-30pm because from Stamford Hill, Tottenham High Rd was at a standstill and I was lucky, several gates had already closed and must have been amongst the last to get in. It was estimated that 50,000 we’re locked out and fortunately the majority we’re Tottenham fans, The Arsenal fans got in early and the support that night was behind both goals and in the Shelf where I stood. Bob Wilson, you’re right, what a man and a great serent to our football club. I remember his debut, believe it or not, as an amateur in 1964 and even as a 14 year old thought what a good keeper, I think replacing Tony Burns but then they bought Fingers in as No1 keeper and Bob was put back in the reserves. Bob eventually got his place back when Bertie took over and never looked back. The reason I’ve always chose Dennis in front of Thierry was because of his brain as a footballer. Personally I thought Dennis made Thierry the player he became but without doubt the two best players in my opinion to play not only for Arsenal but the Premier League
Thats such a lovely one Phill. Mine was our final match at the Highbury on the 7th if May, 2006. I remember having the privilege of my neighbour and bosom friend for company on this match. We won, Henry had a hattrick, Henry kissed the Highbury turf at the end of the game and we both held each other jumping in excitement like children. Wow! That day was just so awesome for me and us. Only just weeks from then , my friend passed on. Never knew twas going to be our last match together but now he is gone. Thats one Arsenal memory I would never forget. RIP Prof, one true gunner.
That’s really sad…. cherish those memories hey?
Lovely respect Sue, as always.
One other thing I would like to say about the atmosphere that magical night in May 1970. After getting hammered in Brussels in the first leg by Anderlecht and the great Paul van Himst and being 3-0 down a young Ray Kennedy was thrown on as a late substitute with only minutes remaining. Not a lot of people gave us any hope of turning it around in the second leg until Ray knocked in a late goal to bring the deficit 3-1. Suddenly there was hope , a 2-0 win at Highbury would win us the final on the away goal rule. It was all set up. Now the difference from then and now, youngsters take note, there we’re no bars, restaurants or facilities downstairs at Highbury like there are at the Emirates. One little tea bar at the back of the North Bank that held about ten people but nothing where you could hang around and if you never got in the ground early enough there was a danger that you’d be locked. So unlike now, the ground would be full sometimes an hour before the kick off. That’s when the chanting would start and the atmosphere would build, the crowd swaying, even more prevalent in local derby’s, each end of the ground would sing abusive songs towards one another. Believe me youngsters, there was nothing like it and this is how it was on that wonderful night. We had loads of songs, not like the Emirates crowd of today, COME ON YOU REDS or WHOSE THAT TEAM WE CALLED THE ARSENAL, WE’LL DRINK A DRINK A DRINK TO RADFORD THE KING THE KING THE KING and CHARLIE CHARLIE BORN IS THE KING OF HIGHBURY and many more. The whole North Bank in perfect unison. We’d put fear in the opposition even before the came on to the pitch and that’s what it was like that night, at it’s very best and if you ask any of the players that played that night they’ll tell you, that night, the Arsenal fans the won the Fairs Cup as much as the players.
Kenny I was 13 years old and was with my uncle and cousin in the Clock End.The crowd that night won the game for Arsenal I’m sure.Even now when asked about favourite games and memories I always recall that one.I was in Brussels for the first leg which was actually the very first time I had ever been abroad.I was in a minibus which seated 16 and had about 116 in it.At that age the whole experience was something completely new to me but even now I remember it all so clearly.
The start of the rebirth of Arsenal started with that Cup win.
Jeez Kenny, I’m there once again mate reading your memories, daring to believe that we just might do it all over again!!
I’ll always remember the tannoy pleading with the crowd to get of the pitch so that the players could do a lap of honour!!
Fat chance of that was there?!?!?
I don’t know who was more exhuasted at the end, the players for their commitment or us fans for the chanting, baying and utter involvement in becoming the twelfth man.
What you didn’t add, although we spoke about it previously, was the guy coming through the crowd with his “peanuts 6pence a bag peanuts” chant. There was also guys selling hot chestnuts and another walking throught the crowd selling programmes.
At the spuds game in 71, I left work in Essex at 12.30, travelled down on my Vespa and arrived at the ground about 5.00.
The crowd was incredible and I knew I wouldn’t get in unless I tried something desperate.
So I walked up to the front of the line and asked a policeman on horseback where the away supporters queue started.
He looked down at me and said “your here son and pushed me to the front by the turnstiles with the aid of his horse!!!
It worked, as nobody argued with a copper on horseback in those days and apart from a few shoves and pushes I got in to witness the first leg of our double.
I still have all the newspapers from the following day in my “room”, along with the priceless programme that I found on the way out!!
Must also comment on the attitude of the spud players immediately AFTER the game as well. They were magnanimous in defeat, unlike the supporters of both sides.
Were you at the North Bank when we ended the season undefeated?
I was there, in the lower tier and those above us were so joyous, it seemed as if the upper tier itself was going to collapse!
It swayed up and down so badly that many ran down to the front or even out to the exit.
Like the idiot I am, I stayed where I was and was rewarded with a 100% unobstructive view of the INVINCIBLES on their lap of honour.
Dreams do come true that’s what they say and by God haven’t we seen that with our wonderful club on so many occasions?
Lovely articles from Phil And Ken but must correct you on one thing Ken, “Peanuts, Peanuts, TANNNER a bag”, never used the word sixpence always the slang word and what a good thrower the guy was, never missed his target, got the tanner first though, and yes, chestnuts on the cold nights outside the in big mettle drums, delicious. As I said before, played a lot of Non-League football between ’68 and ’76 but still watched as many Arsenal games as I could and one of the reasons I stopped playing was because I missed the Arsenal so much. Left the North Bank about 1977 started sitting in the East Stand. For the first few years used to bung the turnstile guys, first of all half a quid then a nicker but eventually got a legitimate season ticket in 1982. First in D block then me and my mates changed to C block as they became available behind the old Directors box. We got those because they were the best seats and by the time we moved to the Emirates we got first choice so now I sit behind the TV gantry. We’re lucky, they’re excellent seats. This article is about my adult life at Arsenal, my childhood will take up another chapter. We’ll talk about that another time.
Winning the double in 1998 was an amazing feeling for a fan of our great club.
Then there was THAT goal Denis scored against Newcastle. That was sensational.
Highbury, vs Coventry Dec 1979, first year at Uni, went with a bunch of my mates. On the pitch, David O’Leary, Chippy Brady, Alan Sunderland, Frank Stapleton, Pat Jennings. The moment which sticks in my mind was a little trick, right in front of us, when Graham Rix received the ball on the wing and beat his man by turning and popping the ball over the defender’s head. Priceless!
So many to choose from.
I’d have to mention:
The FA cup final vs Chelsea (May 2017) when they equalised and then seconds after the restart Ramsey put us back ahead, the Liverpool draw last season when we where in the words of the commentator “Arsenal are walking in a winter wonderland” 3 goals in quick succession and we turned on the style and turned the game around (even if we didn’t end up winning) and I’m sure I could think of plenty more with time…
But the memory that will always stick with me as one of the best (and easiest to recall) is that Henry Goal vs Man U (Barthez in goal). With his back to goal the ball rolls in to his feet. First touch flick the ball up to about knee height and on the swivel he volleys the ball which loops over the top of Barthez and into the far corner. Utterly brilliant!!
Watch it here:
Mines very simple and short winded ,but every time I think of an arsenal memory it as to be bergkamps goal against Newcastle ,still watch replays now and again and it still puts a smile on my face ,when we speak of legends I don’t think there are any bigger than this guy ,always seemed so quiet and humble but had that nasty streak about him which told opponents you couldn’t hack him up just because he was a genius .
Brilliant Xxnofx, !00% agree with you.
Hi all,
I must admit all those memories are really good and i remember them all.
But for me it has to be the 0-5 drubbing that we gave to the dirty side at their place. I remember Liam Brady hitting the sweetest shot that started on the outside of the post and then bent in, pure bliss and to make it all the sweeter i was there. Good times.
Loving all these memories. Many bring back happy times for me, too. The best moment, for me, has to be THAT match at Anfield in ’89. I was watching it live on TV in my hometown, Dunedin, New Zealand. I’d been an Arsenal fanatic for 12 years by then and had never realistically expected to ever see us win the title. I’d only seen us win the ’79 FA Cup and ’87 League Cup. We’d lost four other cup finals. So, to win the league at Liverpool as we did was a moment I still wonder if I imagined, sometimes. It was just surreal. Pure ecstasy. It was 30 years before I finally got to see Arsenal play live, in 2007. The second match I saw was the Champions League match against Slavia Prague, which we won 7-nil; our record score in that competition. After the match, I was in the press interview room and asked Arsene Wenger a couple of questions and had a photo taken with him. I also met football writer Brian Glanville and we got on well, so we ended up catching the tube back to Lancaster Gate together and he regaled me with Arsenal stories from the ’50s and ’60s. It was a very special day. I could never have imagined the amazing journey Arsenal would take me on, back in 1977. Doubles, Invincibles, record unbeaten runs… it’s just been incredible. But, nothing will ever beat 26 May, 1989 at Anfield.
Wow, such wonderful memories and I am finding it impossible to actually pick one.
It’s also easier to remember (at my age) the latter part of following this great club.
Tony Adams goal against Everton = goose pimples every time I see his face as he holds his hands aloft.
The Invincibles with Arsene Wenger wearing a T shirt that was basically taking the p**s out of United and Fergie who said it could never be done = goose pimples and hair raising just because WE did it.
Winning the league at spuds and watching Bertie Mee holding his hands aloft, not wearing a jacket and wearing braces!! The oldies amongst us will know why Bertie Mee showing his braces off was so hilarious = proof we are the pride of North London and always will be.
Here it is then, my all time favourite: Martin Keown jumping over van nasty at Old Trafford. The rest of the team surrounding and backing him up at the final whistle, Fergies indignation that WE actually stood up to him and his team and showed them Arsenal Football Club feared no-one will always make me proud.
The media was in full swing after the game, supporting Fergie and, as always, putting all the blame on us…as did the authorities.
Martin Keown is a legend, maybe for the wrong reasons, but a legend nevertheless.
I love that Adams goal Ken – absolutely brilliant! He is one of my all time fav’s!
And yes I loved Keown for that too… that was bloody spot on.. never tire of seeing it… and you’re right he is a legend for it ?
Sue, I’m lucky enough to have a wife who indulges me in my passion for Arsenal and results in me having my own Arsenal room.
Among all the signed shirts and pictures and in pride of place is a signed Martin Keown photograph of the incident in question.
If Unai can get that passion and commitment shown in that one picture over the next three years, the glory days will be back.
Sadly, at the moment anyway, the Martin Keowns of this world seemed to have passed the premier league by.
That sounds amazing Ken! Good ole Keown!
If you hadn’t have worn out your Merci Arsene t shirt, I bet that would have been framed! Even though it was way too big for me I’ll never get rid of mine!
I totally agree about needing some more Martin Keowns!!
So sorry when I came to the end of you post Ken . PLEASE WRITE A HUGE BOOK NEXT TIME A MEMORIES THREAD COMES ROUND. PERHAPS ALL WE OLDIES ON HERE SHOULD COLLABORATE IN WRITING ONE.
Jon, that’s why I think “us oldies” are so lucky to have been through the whole gambit of being an Arsenal supporter.
So many ups and downs, failures and successes and dreams that actually came true!!
As I read other gooners favourites, I find myself saying ” Jeez I forget that one” or agreeing with their sentiments completely.
When I ran onto the pitch at WHL in 71, dancing round and laughing at/with Bertie Mee I scooped uo a handful of the turf and treasured it for years.
My wife, during one of her springcleaning episodes, came across this “clod of mud” and threw it out!!!
How we stayed together after that I never knew, perhaps that’s why I’ve got my “shrine room” as she calls it.
In actualfact, I’ve still got the original car sticker that went on the back window of the car in 1971 (austin A40 full of holes) that read….
ARSENAL FOOTBALL CLUB
DOUBLE CHAMPIONS
I had a car sticker that said “Follow Mee and Arsenal”.
Spooky to read about your WHL clod of mud, Ken, as I “stole” a couple of blades of grass which years later virtually disappeared from view in the photo album where I had placed them.( A brighter fan might have “stolen” on a grander scale than a mere blade or two. Something involving “clods” and “mud” would have been apt!) I was still happy while it was just a stain but rather upset when it became practically invisible. But I still have that album. AS IF I would ever part with it! Only this Monday gone I cleared out some old handbooks, programmes and such like, most of which I had duplicates and gave them to the ten year old Gooner son of a friend. Whoops of joy from said son made it hugely worthwhile!
For me, its a toss up between the 1979 cup final against united, or the 1989 anfield league winning match. I’d pick the liverpool game, can still remember every minute, but winning trophies was so rare back then, it was probably the catylyst to create the Arsenal we enjoy now.
@Pat Any mention of Perry Groves!
Arsenal 7 Reading 5. Many others too.
I was there with all my kids.. my youngest was 5 ? to come back from 4-0 down was brilliant…loved Chamakh’s lob & celebration… amazing night ?
Arsenal vs sampdoria european cup winners cup semi final.
David seaman, what a legend!!!
My favourite Arsenal memory is definitely Ramsey’s winning goal against Hull City… It was a joy for me as it was my first trophy since supporting my beloved club.
Standing on the ‘shelf’ at spurs ground when we won the league and can still see Ray Kennedy heading in the winning goal a few minutes from the end. Football heaven.
I remember Martin keown jumping on van nistelroy after missing a penalty. Arsenal had strong leaders and footballers lolll
Unbeaten Season. 2006 CL final.
Mine is the 1993 FA Cup Final replay when Andy Linighan won it for us in the last minute of extra time! i was only 9 and i clearly remember that being the first time i actually prayed to the football gods themselves (definitely not the last!!)
1979 F.A.Cup final, 3 goals in the last 5 minutes, Man Utd trailed Arsenal by 2 goals but somehow managed to get themselves level, then with extra time looming, Brady played the ball out wide to Rix who crossed the ball for Sunderland to score the winning goal. I was 13 years old and had never felt so happy as i did when the final whistle went and nor did i again for another 10 years on that wonderful night at Anfield.