A grand Arsenal day out at The Villa 

Passionate long-term Arsenal supporter and loyal friend to the Gooner Fanzine, Countryman 100 - aka Paul Brooker - shares his Villa Park awayday with us. 

This excellent piece first appeared in the brilliant Goonerholics Forever, a site dedicated to the memory of the late Dave Faber, a wonderful man, and friend to so many, and is republished with their kind permission. 

A fabulous away day to start us on our travels this season.

We left Cambridgeshire in rain, but arrived in Birmingham in bright, warm sunshine.

Parked up in the quiet suburban streets of Witton we were a gentle 20 minutes walk from the magnificent Villa Park.

I love this ground.

Even though it’s always a tough contest, it’s a terrific stage for football, a 19th century ground (they’ve been there since 1897) surrounded by terraced houses, with the grandeur of the steps up to the Holte End.

It’s been superbly brought up to date for modern football, whilst keeping all the history.

Walking round the Holte End to the Doug Ellis stand, where the travelling supporters go, we saw a long queue. Another burger stall? Programmes? No, it was a small table on which were life size replicas of the FA Cup and the Champions League trophy.

Folk were having their pictures taken with these. Given that they last won the FA Cup in 1957 and the old European Cup in 1982, this was an impressive example of keeping the flame burning. Maybe Spurs should do similar with the 2007 League Cup?

After a couple of games in the Doug Ellis lower, we were in the upper tier today.

Truly there is not a bad view anywhere, seeing the whole pitch and big screens with ease.

The upper tier has the advantage of a crinkly tin roof which, as every travelling fan knows, always makes for a good singing day (Craven Cottage is similar).

The travelling fans were absolutely fantastic, singing their hearts out throughout the game, and taking every opportunity to give Emi Martinez stick after he waved goodbye to us last season when Villa did the double over us.

It was a great day to be in the middle of the travelling fans and we greatly enjoyed it.

For the first hour we were, in my view, slightly second best. I was super impressed with Morgan Rogers in the Villa midfield.

Three times he carved and spun his way past both Partey and Rice and he laid on the chance that Watkins missed so egregiously. Truly Villa has a great signing there.

The game turned though, as it did last week, by a fabulous save from Raya. Incredible, and celebrated like a goal in the Doug Ellis.

The game was different from then on. Villa made subs that seemed to give us more room. Trossard came on and after super work by Saka did what Leo does.

Trossard again! Trossard again! Trossard again ole ole!

From that point we managed the game superbly. Partey scored with an assist from the chocolate wristed Martinez (we let him know about that) and Odegaard missed a golden chance to make it three. We haven’t even hit our straps yet.

That’s two 7/10 performances and two 2-0 wins, including winning at Villa, a great result.

Saturday was a good day.

My next awayday?

A trip to the Tottenham High Road in mid September

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This article first appeared in Goonerholics Forever, written by Paul Brooker aka Countryman100.

Many thanks to Paul and Goonerholics Forever for their kind permission to use such an excellent piece.

Click here for more from this superb site for discerning Arsenal supporters.