So Nike not only proved true to their word in promising this season’s away shirt to all those fortunate enough to attend the Cesc Fabregas Show - they even went one better. When the company sent out their e-mail requesting our shirt sizes they offered the opportunity to collect them on Monday 5th August from Niketown at Oxford Circus. And - wait for it - as an added bonus, Nike promised that on the night Arsenal legends from the 1989 season would be there to sign our replica shirts.

As I work in London this was an opportunity not to be missed. So, around 5.30 pm, about an hour before the scheduled start, I wandered into the Niketown store. To my surprise, a small number of people were already queueing, which seemed to me rather early, so I opted for one a wander round the store and was pleasantly surprised to see Paul Merson trying on trainers. Not wishing to embarrass him unduly I sneaked alongside and quietly asked him if he would be around later to sign shirts. His response “I think that's the general idea” made me feel a trifle daft!

Having purchased some pretty smart state-of-the-art socks (last of the big spenders) I decided that there was still time to visit one of the local hostelries before proceedings began and found a welcome pint of German Weissbeer at nearby All Bar One for £3.70. When you consider it’s the West End and compare the price of the gnat’s p*** served up as lager at Ashburton Grove, that's pretty reasonable.

On my return to Niketown, I discovered the queue had built significantly, making me question the wisdom of not having queued in the first place. However, I could see Mickey Thomas, Steve Bould and Brian Marwood had joined Paul Merson for the ritual shirt signing. My fears of a long wait proved unjustified, as the queue moved reasonably quickly. What did surprise me, however, was seeing at least one person (who shall remain nameless) who most definitely had not attended the original show. Apparently, he had discovered the e-mail address and requested an invitation. Shame on him - I daren't mention him by name for fear of litigation and being struck off the list of Gooner contributors. On top of which, he claimed a previous engagement, meaning that I had the additional indignity of getting his shirt signed for him.

I got back to the car with my ‘swag’ - three signed shirts, including one for Marcia who had taken the kids to EuroDisney to see the other Mickey and one for the gatecrasher - only to the picture for signing of Micky Thomas scoring ‘ that goal’ at Anfield still in the car. I was not going to pass on that opportunity, so I removed the picture from its frame and trudged back to Niketown. By this time the queue had almost disappeared and I was, somewhat symbolically, ‘right at the end’. I had little trouble in getting in a second time, though the significance of my last-minute ‘charge through the midfield’ seemed lost on Micky. Perhaps he was tired from all those fan photos; but he did sign with the good grace one might expect from an Arsenal legend.

So, thanks to daughter Marcia once again, for an enjoyable evening. Our Arsenal legends were friendly and chatty and seemed to enjoy the evening too. Only blot was a bluejack advertorial text from Nike about a Joe Cole promotion - poorly timed with all those Gooners in the store. I’ll forgive them. Hopefully, Nike will reap the financial rewards; certainly I at least will be back to buy a pair of those flashy Nike Lunaracer running shoes should my London Marathon application be accepted. I will, however, need to purchase an away shirt – only one to wear this time.