The Final Salute

A black jeep picking you up at Aubert Park, flashlights and people talking autographs from the man in the drivers seat, that's how my Highbury experience started on Sunday. Strange, but true- I went to see Arsenal's last ever game played on Highbury against Wigan Athletic. And even better, I had the chance to do it with one of the Arsenal's goalkeepers Mart Poom.

The experience, when I look back at it, was quite surreal, especially because I could see all the happenings from within- went on the ground and saw a little bit of the star life one can only seen on TV from very close. All the autographs, all the people orginizing something, were something that I had never seen beforehand. But then again, I had never been to a Premiership match before, especially a match, which had that much at stake- Arsenal was fighting with Tottenham for the last Champions League qualifying spot. I guess Highbury got a very decent farewell present- an Arsenal win together with the qualification. I'm glad of the result- they deserved it at least by looks of that one game. When you would have asked me this question about two weeks ago, then maybe I would have given a different answer (especially by looking at the Arsenal vs. Tottenham game).

But still, with all the stuff going on in the stadium, I was most concerned during and as well after the game about the Liverpool vs. Portsmouth and Manchester vs. Charlton result. Even on the tube it was quite hard to explain to some of the fans that I really wasn't an Arsenal supporter. Hehh, maybe I’m starting to be a proper fan? Hope that doesn't take the form that Hornby described in his book...