Since my last visit to Arsenal, the club has seen significant change. In late 2019 I was witness to the end of the Unai Emery era, a limp and uninspiring 2-2 home draw to Southampton. Just writing that feels like a very, very long time ago. We’ve had a global pandemic and matches played in empty stadiums since I last took residence at the Emirates. Now the world has returned to some semblance of normality, opportunities to see my team have been hard to come by.
That might be because, under manager Mikel Arteta and his young but exceptionally gifted squad, Arsenal have been transformed. They have miraculously sat atop the Premier League for the majority of the campaign, silencing their critics every week. Arteta has galvanised this group with an energy and spirit reminiscent of Arsène Wenger’s Invincibles. In turn, the fanbase have fed off this and the atmosphere surrounding the club has never been better. Understandably, demand for tickets has risen as a result.
However, an unexpected gift was dropped in my lap at the last minute. Two tickets courtesy of Mr Bukayo Saka and his friends at New Balance were suddenly acquired, thanks to my older brother’s hard work and perseverance. Sadly my bro wasn’t available to attend but he very graciously secured seats for my Dad and I instead. I owe him big time.
Just like that, I was on a train bound for London to see the Arsenal, my Arsenal, the mighty league-leading Gunners. If there was ever a time and a season to see the team in person, this was it.
As I was about to step off my train, I realised this would be my first time seeing many of Arteta’s players in the flesh. Only Granit Xhaka, Kieran Tierney and Gabriel Martinelli were included in the team on my last visit (with Rob Holding not involved that day). I had yet to see Saka make his breakthrough, and new signings like Martin Ødegaard and Aaron Ramsdale (among others) have since joined the much-improved squad. I was excited to finally see them all with my own eyes, up close.
I linked up with Dad and jumped on the Piccadilly line, before departing at Arsenal station for the short walk to the stadium. We were anxious to get our hands on the tickets, to make sure this wasn’t all an elaborate dream, and arrived at the box office for collection. We studiously watched the staff through the window as they sorted the precious envelopes, stashing them methodically and alphabetically. Thankfully the nice gentleman had an envelope saved for us. Feeling very much like Charlie Bucket with his golden ticket, we breathed a sigh of relief, and with access to the match secured we could now relax – Saka had delivered!
With kickoff not far away we turned our attention to food, and grabbed a greasy burger from one of the numerous chippy stalls surrounding the ground. Through the turnstiles and upstairs within the bowels of the Clock End, I enjoyed a pre-match pint as Dad and I eagerly discussed the afternoon ahead.
Arsenal had the opportunity to go eight points clear of Manchester City with a win. Thursday saw the Gunners knocked out of the Europa League by Sporting CP in a tense penalty shootout, and I was concerned there may be some mental and physical hangover from the extra-time defeat. Both William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu left the game with injuries and their loss felt more consequential than the exit from European competition. Saliba and Tomiyasu have been pivotal to Arsenal’s success this season and we hope they return to action soon.
Crystal Palace entered the day midtable but were winless since New Year’s Eve, on the cusp of being dragged into the relegation battle. Due to their poor run of form, Palace unceremoniously discarded manager Patrick Vieira on the Friday before the game. The scoundrels had the nerve to sacrifice our former son and legendary captain in the hope their squad received the “new manager bounce” that would cause the Gunners an upset.
It was settled then; Arsenal must avenge Vieira and destroy Crystal Palace.
Dad and I made our way to our seats, right in the heart of the Clock End. The view of the magnificent green carpet at the Emirates never disappoints and the noise from the Ashburton Army below was already reverberating around us.
The biggest change to the Arsenal lineup saw Rob Holding make his first Premier League start of the season, in place of the injured Saliba (who hadn’t missed a game to this point). January signing Leandro Trossard was preferred in attack over Gabriel Jesus, who is still being managed back to full fitness after recovering from his lengthy injury. I had hoped we might see the Brazilian striker from the start but I couldn’t fault Arteta’s decision, as Trossard had been in scintillating form of late and a huge factor in recent victories.
The match soon got underway and any concerns I had about Arsenal being tired from their midweek European disappointment were dispelled early. Martinelli in particular seemed to have a point to prove, and right from the start he began terrorising the Crystal Palace defence.
Outside of a Palace counter-attack that saw Zaha hit the post after ten minutes, Arsenal were in complete control for the first half and deserved to lead 2-0 at the break, thanks to well-taken goals from Martinelli and Saka.
The Brazilian’s effort in the 28th minute showcased everything great about his style of play. Martinelli gathered a quick cross from Saka and instantly shifted the ball away from his defender before striking the ball with his weaker foot, across goal. 19-year-old Palace ‘keeper Joe Whitworth stood no chance and the ball flew past him. It was Martinelli’s sixth goal in six league matches and his 13th in total, so far.
Dad and I have a sad history of drab encounters at the Emirates, with Arsenal usually scrapping for a desperate equaliser, so we were overjoyed to see us take the lead for a change, and in some style. It was considerate of Martinelli to score at the Clock End as well, right in front of us.
Half time was approaching when Saka doubled Arsenal’s lead. The Gunners had been piling on the pressure when a dangerous cross from the left side narrowly missed being converted. The ball fell to Saka at the far post instead, where the Englishman regathered possession and played a quick one-two with Ben White. Saka’s movement took him towards goal when he received White’s return pass and with one touch he set himself then curled a low strike beyond Whitworth to make it 2-0 to the Arsenal.
Over the last couple of years the 21-year-old Saka has endeared himself to not just Arsenal fans but the nation as a whole. Even people who don’t follow football know who he is. It’s obvious Saka is just a really good lad, and his humble, affable personality is in total contrast to the egomaniac Ronaldo-types of the world. People seem to like that, funnily enough. Since Dad and I were the beneficiaries of Saka’s talent and outstanding ability on this day, it was only right that he score, and he basked in the adoration of the Arsenal faithful.
The second half brought much of the same, with Arsenal picking up exactly where they left off, creating space and opportunities, always stretching and exposing Crystal Palace.
Xhaka found himself in an attacking position ten minutes into the half, and an exchange with Trossard created a great opportunity to extend Arsenal’s lead. The Belgian played a perfectly-weighted through ball into Xhaka’s path but from our angle, it looked like Xhaka was about win a penalty. What I didn’t realise until a split-second later was that, despite being felled by defenders, Xhaka had managed to sneak the ball past Whitworth before being fouled, thus making it 3-0 and no penalty necessary.
With less than half an hour remaining Palace clawed a goal back from a scruffy corner, thanks to Jeffrey Schlupp using whatever body part he could to wrangle control and sneak the ball past Ramsdale. A memorable highlight came moments before the goal however, when Xhaka and White combined to snuff out a Palace counter-attack. The pair battled with Zaha on the wing and surrendered a corner, but Xhaka returned to White and lifted him from the grass, and the two men embraced before rousing the crowd. It struck me as noteworthy and a prime example of the type of spirit and fight imbued into the club now. What a shame the corner that followed resulted in a Palace goal.
Unconcerned, Arsenal responded roughly ten minutes later with their fourth goal of the day and erased any hopes the visitors had of mounting a comeback. Substitutes Gabriel Jesus and Kieran Tierney combined well and the Scottish left back, very impressive in his 30-minute appearance, cut the ball back to an eager Saka on the edge of the box. Saka connected first-time and swept home his second goal of the afternoon, taking his tally to 12 league goals on the season. It was a fitting reward for a wonderful day’s work and naturally we were ecstatic Saka had put on such a show for us.
Safe in the knowledge that all three points were secure, the home fans poured through the entire songbook in celebration. Multiple renditions of VIEIRA WOAHHH rang out around the Emirates, in tribute to our avenged French icon. I hope Vieira was home enjoying the show Arsenal put on, laying waste to his former employers.
Dad and I rejoiced when the final whistle eventually came. Finally, I had seen Arsenal win with my Dad in attendance. It was easily the best performance I had witnessed from Arsenal in my many visits to see them live.
Not a single Arsenal player stood out as having a mediocre or average performance: every man contributed meaningfully and I will give each their due:
Ramsdale made important stops when called upon and his distribution was exemplary. Oleksandr Zinchenko was everywhere, doing everything, the football equivalent of a Swiss Army Knife. Gabriel didn’t put a foot wrong in defence and his partner Holding was an aerial force. There was pressure on Holding in the absence of Saliba but I thought the Englishman was exceptional. White has an almost symbiotic partnership with Saka and his omission from the England squad is mystifying; I’d argue we saw his finest game in an Arsenal shirt yet. White was strong in the tackle, first to every ball, and constantly impressed me.
I have run out of superlatives for Thomas Partey. The Ghanaian enforcer is so vital to the way Arsenal operate and it’s obvious the team perform to their fullest when he is pulling the strings in midfield. Xhaka enjoyed room to roam and savoured his goal in front of the home fans, who have truly come to adore him. The captain Ødegaard weaves everything together and sets the tempo for the entire team. I was looking forward to seeing the Norwegian the most and he did not disappoint. Ødegaard left the field only after completing a lap of the entire pitch to applaud the home fans; that gesture resonated with me deeply.
Trossard was menacing in attack and linked together beautifully with the wingers either side of him. It’s astounding how quickly the Belgian has adapted to life at Arsenal and he is flourishing. Martinelli continued his hot streak in front of goal and the Palace defence couldn’t handle him. Finally, what more can I say about Saka? It’s simply a privilege to watch him play, to see him represent Arsenal, and don the red and white with such obvious pride. He’s the rare sort of player and person you hope will stay at the club forever.
As we bid farewell to the ground and headed towards the tube, spirits were still high and songs were still being sung all around us. I couldn’t get over just how enjoyable it was to soak in, how the experience was so remarkably different to recent years, where the atmosphere too often bordered between apathy and outrage.
Those days are now a distant memory. Regardless of how this season eventually ends, Arsenal fans are cherishing every moment right now, relishing in the feelgood-effect Arteta and his men have ushered in.
They have ten games remaining. Ten games to make history.
It sure would be nice to say I was there, for at least one small part of it.
Day At The Football 