Having been to Ashburton Grove twice now (careful not to use the E word), my initial feelings of the stadium are that it is visually stunning, the merchandise shops are 20 times better, the seats are very luxurious and the Arsenal lettering before the South bridge along with the cannons outside the Armory are something every other team that visits will be jealous of. However, having said that, there are a few small issues that sadly make me feel disappointed with it and I really would like to know if I am not alone. I feel slightly guilty that I feel this way and I know I should feel lucky that we’ve moved into such a great stadium but just can’t help it.

Appearance of the inner stadium (bowl): Don’t get me wrong, it looks great but please can anyone tell me if Arsenal plan to do anything to decorate the vast amount of concrete that is on show underneath each tier inside the stadium? It is such a shame that a beautiful stadium is spoilt by the vast amounts of ugly concrete on show. In all of the plans that I have seen there was a banner of red, white and blue signs that covered this but it is not there now? Even if it were covered with advertising it would look better! What about the signs that were put up on the old North Bank (the WHL 04, Anfield 89, OT 02 etc.). Will these be reappearing?

Where is the Clock by the way? It might be up but it hasn’t been advertised and I’m none the wiser? Where is the Arsenal lettering on the seats or come to think about it, where apart from on the cores (the stairwells), does it say Arsenal anywhere??? It is our stadium isn’t it? If they want the stadium to feel like home – let’s have some more Arsenal branding besides Emirates’.

Catering and facilities for NORMAL fans: Being a clock-end season ticket holder at Highbury, I was ecstatic that we were moving to Ashburton (baring in mind the poor facilities and lack of space that was avialable for us in the Clock-end). However, I now feel very disappointed with facilities at the new stadium which don't even come close to being in the same class as (for example) Highbury's North Bank facilities.

It has taken me 15 minutes at each game to get a drink/food before kick off and at half time I have twice queued up for 15 minutes only to get to the front and be told that they had stopped serving lager. They even took away 20 odd pints only for them to be on sale for after the game. Great – an even flatter pint of Fosters for £3.20! Now I appreciate that they may have a lot of people to serve at half time in such a short space of time, but even in the North Bank you never queued for more than five/ten minutes and could always get a drink at half time. It disappoints me that Arsenal dub Ashburton as one of the best stadiums in the world when it simply isn't for normal (i.e. non Club level, box holding) fans. I bet the Diamond Club fans get a drink and a prawn sandwich within five minutes though!?

Now apologies for keeping on about lager, you must understand that I'm not an alcoholic, but it is part of the match day experience to have a couple of pints isn’t it!? I even tried to get a drink outside the ground (at one of Arsenal's catering points) where bottles of lager were clearly on show as being available. Only to find that after I got to the front of the queue that it wasn't the case - WHY IS IT ON THE PRICE BOARD THEN??? It was also to my amazement that whilst reading the current issue of the Gooner (issue 166) Howard Lamb comments on DB10’s testimonial and even mentions that he got a drink easily! Now I would love to know where you sit Howard, because it isn’t easy where I am (East Lower, block 14 by the way).

Toilets: Not a great subject – but these are atrocious. At both games they have been overcrowded and we even had more space in the Clock End! Oh, and one out of the four hand dryers have worked at both games! Great! I’d dry my hands with tissue if there were any. I am sorry that this has turned into a bit of a rant and I appreciate that it is still early days; I know that the catering has been out-sourced and maybe something Arsenal aren’t entirely in control of – but I cannot help but feel disappointed.

I was probably one the most excited Arsenal fans about our move, but now I am left feeling angry and flat. I feel that the planning and the provision of the facilities for normal fans are poor and the management of the new caterers is even worse. I realise that the club level/box owners are our major source of income but sadly I don't have £2,500 plus to spend on a seat.

Maybe one day Arsenal will look after the normal fans but I guess it will be too late. Here’s hoping things get better.