Most regular fans, especially those who travel away will know Michael, the man with the beret and the significant collection of shirts with very individual messages in tribute to the players at Arsenal. During a match he has been known to change tops ten times. But the beret is a constant

He is often caught on camera during television matches, beret on head, usually when they do a pan of the crowd before kick off. And his willingness to stand up and chant for players without anyone joining in is recognised by them. On occasion some have singled him out when giving a shirt to the crowd after a game.

Maybe his infamy is what led to an incident last Wednesday evening on the platform at Holloway Road tube station. Michael had hung around a while to soak up the atmosphere around the new stadium after the victory against Manchester United in the youth cup semi first leg before making his way home. On the tube platform, two white lads in their early 20s in Arsenal tops ran up and snatched his beret from his head. Michael gave chase, but ran out of puff as they ran up the stairs out of the station.

The beret was bought in Seville many years ago and as even Michael himself says it smells pretty bad, its value is purely sentimental. The jape of taking it may have been done for some kind of a laugh, but onlinegooner is now doing what it can to get it returned to him. If you are aware of who might have taken it, please get in touch and we will organise for its return with no comeback on the miscreants who stole it. Main thing is Michael gets his beret back.

Please email us at [email protected] if you know of the hat’s whereabouts, even if you are one of the pair who took it. We repeat, there will be no comeback if Michael’s hat is returned safely, and we can arrange for it to be deposited anonymously by anyone willing to get in touch about returning it.