Arsenal America

Ed. Note - Sure, talking about the Arsenal is a big part of Arsenal America, but I think we all get a kick out of here those first-hand experiences that members have, especially if we haven’t yet been ourselves…

I want to start off my story by thanking Rick Liebling, Rick Breese & Jill Smith if it was for them the trip would never have been as wonderful as it was.

About two weeks before I left the United States it was still up in the air as to whether I would be attending one game v Bolton or potentially three in total. I waited to hear the draw for the Champions League and was in touch with Rick Breese to determine if I was going to be going to the game. The draw was Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and soon I had a ticket. That day at work I had an email from Jill Smith who is the Supporters Liaison Officer at Arsenal. She was informing me that I had a ticket to the Arsenal v Man United match. Three games in one week, what more could you ask for. There was certainly more to come than I could have ever imagined.

For the Arsenal v Bolton match I met up with Rick Breese at the Finsbury Park Station and soon we were off to the Arsenal Tavern for a couple of Pints. It was there that I met more people than I can name, but some of the regulars Andy and Judy, who come all the way from Manchester for all the games, as well as Ed and Steve. All were great people to meet and I enjoyed talking football and various other things like Fleetwood Mac (Ed) with them.

So it?s off to the game. I was sitting in the Clock End in the second row off to the side of the goal with Rick. The atmosphere around the stadium was amazing. People singing and talking about nothing but Arsenal, I was in heaven. The day was a bit cloudy with potential rain and there was, but this is England, so what do you expect. From the start it was a just great to be there. I was taking pictures for the first 10 minutes or so and was told by the Steward to stop. He basically said I just want to see you taking pictures again, so I didn?t let him. 5 minutes in Henry cracked one off the post, just an amazing shot. I taped the game and every time I watch the replay, I pause it because there I am in the background ready to jump out of my seat. It didn?t go in but only 10 minutes later Pires put one in followed by Bergkamp. For my first game I just wished I could understand the words to the songs they were singing. I guess the Accent just threw me off a bit. Still I just mumbled along where I didn?t know. Campo put one in at the 41st minute to make the game a little more intense. Not much happened in the second half, but the victory was ours. This certainly was a fantastic experience. I still have two more games to look forward to.

Wednesday was the Champions League match at Stamford Bridge. Before the match I met up with Rick, Judy & Steve to see if we could meet some of the players a couple of hours before the game. We were actually pretty fortunate in doing so. Many of the players were running late and didn?t stop for a picture or an autograph, but there were a couple who did. Jose Reyes stopped so I could get a picture with him as well as Martin Keown and Edu. Edu was the best. He was walking buy and Rick yelled out something and he stopped and took a picture with us and signed my program. Very cool! Rick chased down Arsene Wenger to have him sign his Champions League Away ticket from Celta Vigo so that he could have all of them signed by Arsene. This made the night just perfect and the game hasn?t even started yet.

The seats were in a good spot, the Arsenal Away Fans were far more energetic than the home fans. They sang practically the whole time and never once sat down during the game. We might have been out numbered 10 ?1 but the energy was far greater in the Arsenal section. It really was a good game, very intense and well played. When Chelsea scored on the Lehman error, I just started thinking that there was no way this could end up 1-0. Not more than 6 minutes later when Pires scored, it was a madhouse. Ed was jumping all over the place and along with the fans from behind me, who fell on top on me, I was just flattened. I have several cuts and bruises, but it was all in celebration of Bobby Pires?s goal. The rest of the game stayed pretty intense. I was happy to walk out of there with a 1-1 draw and the away goal. Can?t wait to watch the second leg next Tuesday on ESPN 2. I really want to see them go on to beat up on Real Madrid.

Sunday would be my next trip to Highbury. Man United for the big match and to potentially break the record for most consecutive games unbeaten in a season. I was really pumped up for this one. I meet the group over at The Arsenal Tavern a couple hours before kick off. Had a few pints, met more Arsenal fans and talked more football. We headed off to the match, which will be my last for this year. The first half was pretty good, Arsenal had ball possession for a large portion of it. I was sitting in the North Bank Upper in the second row with a great view of the field and the whole stadium. Looking off to my right I could see the progress of the new stadium they are building. The people around me for this one were a bit older and not as fun of a group as the Clock End folks. Still you could feel the nervousness of all around as the second half started at 0-0. The pressure was off for a good portion of the second half when Henry put a solid shot in the back of the net in the 50th minute. It was such and incredible shot I don?t think I?ll ever forget that one. When Wenger started substituting for a more defensive side, everyone was just going crazy. They kept saying this was a big mistake, we should be attacking. Well, they were right when Saha put one in the net. For the next few minutes and the next hour back at the Tavern, everyone was so down. I was as well, but I wanted to look at it in a positive way. I saw them break the record of most games unbeaten in a season and they didn?t lose a match that I saw.

I really want to thank Rick Breese who was the one who made things happen for me. I do appreciate being introduced to all the supporters, like him, who go to practically every game. I?d like to also thank Andy, Judy, Steve & Ed who were all great to talk with and made my trip far more enjoyable than just seeing the games on my own.

The one piece of advice I can give you is to not support the Touts. It only takes a bit of effort to get in touch with the right people to get tickets at face value. There may not be tickets available for every game, but for a large portion you can find other means. If you?re an American and looking to go to an Arsenal match, contact the supporters club, post messages at bigsoccer.com or contact everyone you can who has a connection. If that doesn?t work, contact me at david_przybylinski@hotmail.com and I will see if I can get you in touch with the right people. I can?t guarantee anything, but I will certainly try.

David P.