Yet More Arsenal?

I know it may seem that every one of my posts about Arsenal, but I just can't help it. After seeing maybe a few games a year in the States, I am now in a country where every game is broadcast and I can actually see the games. Which I did. Twice.

The first game was this past Sunday against Bolton in the FA Cup. Emirates Stadium was packed and the crowd was pretty into it. The game was pretty good and ended in a 1-1 tie. Arsenal very easily could have won with all the chances they missed, but I was satisfied with a tie.

The game I was most looking forward to was tonight against Tottenham Hotspur. For those who don't know, these two clubs have a fierce rivalry going. They are located only 4 miles apart in London and have been rivals for decades. A good analogy would be the Yankees and Red Sox in the States, except here it might be worse. In America, Yankee and Red Sox fans sit side by side in discontent, but in relative harmony. Here they separate Home and Away fans because if they don't then a riot could break out.

This game was different then Sundays. I wasn't in the upper tier anymore, I was only 9 rows back from the pitch (field). The crowd was also much louder and meaner. It is truly something that has to be experienced first-hand, but hearing 60,000 Arsenal fans screaming "If you hate Tottenham stand up!", and then seeing everyone standing up, is something I will never forget. Nothing even comes close to this atmosphere in the States.

The game was exciting but scoreless up until a 77nd minute Arsenal goal. I thought the match was over and was almost ready to go when Tottenham scored in the 85th minute. So, the match went into extra time. Arsenal scored in extra time to take the lead and never looked back. Excited, we all pointed at the Spurs fans and chanted "You're not singing anymore!" As I left the stadium chants of "We beat the scum three to one" echoed throughout North London.

It is experiences like this that made all the Study Abroad paperwork bullshit worth it. All the forms, essays, meetings, stress required to go abroad is finally paying off. Being in London, eating amazing food, watching amazing football, it's just indescribable. I miss the States, but right now there's no place I'd rather be.

I promise to do a non-Arsenal post soon, but it's very late in the UK and I need some sleep.