Chris Cann 
The new issue of The Gooner (249) goes on sale this evening outside the stadium before the game against Monaco. The contents include an interview with Jon Sammels, pieces on Charlie Nicholas, Per Mertesacker and articles on Arsenal’s Champions League chances, the transfer window and anti-social kick-off times amongst many more.
The special feature this issue is entitled ‘Goals, Goals, Goals’. It’s writers’ memories of matches in which Arsenal netted at least five times, originally inspired by the recent trouncing of Aston Villa. We had a couple of ‘double entries’ for particular games, so we will run them this week on the website as a trailer for the issue.
The first is by Chris Cann, about a particular visit to White Hart Lane near the end of 1978 (which two other writers give personal accounts of in the issue itself)…
Tottenham 0 Arsenal 5
Division 1
23rd December 1978
Spurs had returned to the top flight after a year in Division Two, and had signed Argentines Ardiles and Villa in the summer which, at the time, was considered a very odd thing to do.
I went to this match with my (still) best mate John (a Spurs fan). We paid at the turnstile and walked around the ground to get to his usual position. There was no real segregation in those days and there was plenty of fighting in the ground so it was important to know where to stand if you didn’t want to get involved.
The match was memorable for me for 3 reasons:
1. A fantastic performance by Liam Brady, capped by a sublime goal, which they still show in the pre-match build up at Arsenal on the electronic screens.
2. An Alan Sunderland hat-trick.
3. Spurs fans leaving in droves after the fifth goal went in with my mate John sharing the stand with a handful of deliriously happy Arsenal fans at the final whistle.
That match was perfect with a Sunderland goal in the first minute, a two goal lead just before half-time, further goals just after the hour and a late goal as the icing on the cake. The result is still Arsenal's biggest post-war triumph at White Hart Lane.
For those of you that have the time – you can indulge in the highlights of the game on YouTube.
The new issue of The Gooner costs £2.50 and is available on your approach to the stadium from our sellers before the game, and on selected routes when you make your exit afterwards.
A special thanks to Nadia Render for typing up the transcript of the interview with Jon Sammels for the issue. Nadia offers a freelance writer, typist and secretary service. Twitter@NadsNorfolk.
