David Singer
I have followed this club since being very young. Attracted to the Red/White and Yellow/Blue with the cannon, I knew then that Arsenal was my team to follow. I was too young to be at Wembley to see the Charlie George goal in the final, but remember the pictures in the paper and the goal on TV, his celebration. From then on Arsenal was in my heart.
The 1979 final was great to watch, but as a kid I cried for the losses against Ipswich and West Ham. The early 80's were not great, but when I saw Willy Young score in the North Bank I definitely knew that this club was my love of football, nothing could beat standing at the back of the North Bank but by the end of the match you found yourself at the front. Highbury was fantastic. And then came the 89 Anfield game - a truly remarkable match and season in Arsenal history. I was Arsenal mad, and felt honoured to support such a club watching my heroes.
In ‘91 I was lucky enough to get hold of a season ticket in the East Upper, my row was full of top fans around me. We won the league again, oh happy days. The George Graham era was good for us Gooners, winning in Europe and with players like Adams in the side and Keown we had leaders on the pitch. Every time I entered Highbury the hairs on the back of my neck stood up, heart pumping and the passion on the pitch was all there to be seen. Later on saw George sacked, a sad day for the club but Arsenal will always live on, then came Bruce Rioch for one season.
Wenger arrived to everyone’s surprise, the unknown man from Japan, and in his first full season he delivered us two trophies. I was so proud to be a Gooner. We played with style and were strong. Never pulling out of a tackle, we were hard but fair at times. The unbeaten season was truly wonderful, and in my heart of hearts I thought we would go on and dominate English football for years to come as well as Europe.
Two years later we moved to our new home, and in true Arsenal style they cocked up my seat. Where has everyone gone I use to be with? All these new people around me looking at me if I dared to shout out to Bendtner, life was changing for me. The stadium was great but no hairs standing up for me this time every time I entered this ground. I have moved seat now and it is slightly better, but I could be anywhere at any stadium. Highbury was class. We were all led to believe that Arsenal could now compete with the other top clubs and buy superstar players, but no sadly that is not the case. Our great football brings us no end product now for six years, hard to believe for a club like ours,. And now we are at stalemate still choking at the end of every season, still trying to walk the ball in the back of the net, our stubborn manager who is two years past his sell by date who harps on about mental strength, where is it? Because in true Wenger words "I didn't see it".
No leaders on the pitch, who is the player I used to watch fist clenching, where is our Frank Mc, Adams and even Vieira? A team of individuals but not a side that will win you a trophy. For a while now my love of the club has swayed a bit and then Sunday was the final straw. It's gone, my love for this club has been all drained away from me, all those years ago I could never imagine being owned by an American. Arsenal is not a club anymore we are a business.
We pay top prices to watch them but I feel I get nothing in return, am deflated by it all. It's like splitting up from your loved on, but we can't carry on anymore like this, I want my Arsenal back., Need to feel the love again, but it could take years to mend this heart.
1971- 2011.
