This wonderul article by loyal Gooner Paul Brooker first appeared in Goonerholics Forever here and is rebuplished with their kind permission

In the twenty teens, Wembley became our second home.

We always seemed to be there for FA Cup semi-finals, finals and Community Shields.

The last win I witnessed there was in 2017 to win the FA Cup against Chelsea 2-1.

The last time I attended was in 2018, when we lost 3-0 to Manchester City in the final of the League Cup.

Arsenal were there in 2020 of course, winning the FA Cup and Community Shield – but in the grim atmosphere of having no fans allowed because of the pandemic.

So, when we won a place in this year’s Community Shield, by virtue of finishing second in the league, the fans were eager to return to a place where we have seen much success over the years.

Around 35,000 Gooners homed in on Wembley, taking advantage of the 5000 tickets returned by City. We, of course, sold out.

The SatNav decided that the North Circular Road was too busy on a big match day at Wembley. So we took ourselves on a tour of NW London suburbia. Edgware, Colindale, and Burnt Oak inter alia, and finally Wembley.

The SatNav came up trumps and we were driving into the red multi-storey carpark just over two hours from leaving home.

When I first starting booking Wembley official parking, about 15 years ago, it cost £20. This year it was £40. O tempora! O mores! (it is of course well known that Cicero was a Gooner). 

Up and onto the concourse, we checked out the Wembley catering. Fine if you liked burgers or hot dogs at eye watering prices, but not much variety, let alone value.

So a cheese burger each it was, despite the fact that I’m a pensioner (I did get £10 off the ticket) and into the stadium about 40 minutes before kick off.

Thanks to the new system, where when you bought your tickets depended on the number of home league credits you had, we had superb seats on the lower tier, behind the goal and about 20 rows back.

Two rows in front of us and just to our right were the Ashburton Army. They made plenty of noise, but thankfully had left the drum at home. 

We were in bright sunshine, as we were to be for the rest of the day. I received a message from ClockEndRider telling me it was hammering down in Winchmore Hill about six miles away. Clearly the sun shone on the righteous.

The team was announced. The only surprise was Havertz leading the line, despite not having played there in pre-season. I think we all expected Eddie or Tross to be there. The team was:

Ramsdale, Timber, Gabriel, Saliba, White, Rice, Partey, ?degaard, Saka, Havertz, Martinelli.

The strains of North London Forever rang out across Wembley. The teams came out. God Save the King was played. We were off. 

The first period was played at quickstep pace, slow, slow, quick, quick slow. Stuart Atwell booked Partey, Havertz and Arteta for breaches of the new rule about gamesmanship. The first 15 minutes was all City, then Rice and Partey got a grip of midfield and we came right into it.

Rice made a good break on the right and slid the ball to Havertz who had his back to goal. He spun and shot and Ortega made a superb save with his left foot.

Odegaard was coming more and more into the game, an indication of the extra space he was being given by the Rice/Partey double pivot behind him. 

On the wings, Martinelli was skinning Walker and Saka was skinning Akanji. Saka got round his full back and cut it back superbly to Havertz, who should have scored but instead fired it straight at the goalie. 

At half time it was 0-0. Arsenal had had the better chances and Ramsdale was practically untroubled in the Arsenal goal.

HT: Arsenal 0-0 City

City started quickly and won a corner. Stones headed powerfully towards goal and Ramsdale saved well. ?degaard went down with a knock and needed the physio. He asked four times to come back on, to no avail.

Evidently there is a new rule that says if you need the physio you can’t come on for 30 seconds, which seemed an eternity.

Let’s see if these new rules are still being applied in October. City made a couple of subs, the ineffectual Grealish (perhaps he was still hungover) and Erling Haaland who had been magnificently controlled by the imperious Saliba – the blond Viking had zero shots on goal.

On came Cole Palmer and Foden. Kovacic came off for our oft nemesis de Bruyne. Gabriel was booked for being kicked by Ortega (it’s worth mentioning that none of the cards carry forward to the League). Off came Timber for Tierney and Martinelli for Trossard.

I should mention at this point that the Arsenal crowd were loud, proud and magnificent throughout. I literally couldn’t hear the City fans. We were right in front of the wheelchairs, where a wizened little guy kept beseeching our team to break someone’s legs (okayyy!). 

Then came the City strike. Just outside our penalty area, Partey was spun by Foden who made rapid progress upfield. His ball to Palmer was cut out by Tierney but only as far as de Bruyne. He nodded it to Palmer who took a touch and then rifled it into the top corner of Ramsdale’s net. Completely unsaveable and a magnificent strike. 

Arsenal 0-1 (Palmer 78)

Rice came off for Eddie (Havertz moved into midfield, but eventually he was subbed by Vieira, as was Gabriel by ESR). Ramsdale made two excellent saves from Foden and Rodri. That could have been the game right there.

We were not looking that threatening in this period. Several players, including Odegaard were showing signs of fatigue in the hot sunshine. But, roared on by the crowd, we kept plugging away. 

On 88 minutes, Rodri committed a mugging on Partey as he strode through the centre circle. No card of course (I made it his third bookable offence). Eight minutes of added time were announced (get used to this folks).

In the 92nd minute a collision of heads between Partey and Walker saw a four minute delay as they were patched up, Partey being left looking like Stuart Broad with a broad white stripe round his head. 100 minutes gone.

People were just beginning to drift away (not us of course). We won a corner. It was taken by Saka but nodded away by Rodri back to Saka, who collected the rebound and played it short to Trossard.

He beat a man, then on the edge of the area fired in a fierce low left footed shot that deflected wickedly off Akanji and into the goal right in front of us.

Trossard had bought a ticket and won the lottery. How many times have we bemoaned the semi-circle of death and beseeched someone to shoot. Cue pandemonium, limbs, celebration and a huge noise. The City players looked stunned. 

Arsenal 1-1 (Akanji OG 100)

Two minutes later the final whistle went. It was to be penalties. They were taken right in front of the raucous Arsenal crowd. Captain ?degaard stepped up and calmly scored. Kevin de Bruyne came forward and …..hit the bar!

Trossard and Sake scored, as did Bernardo Silva. The loathsome Rodri came forward and hit a poor penalty that was SAVED by Ramsdale. Oh sweet, sweet moment (the pressure clearly got to him).

Fabio Vieira made the long walk from the half way line with the opportunity to win the game. He struck it sweetly into the top corner! For the 17th time we were Community/Charity Shield champions!

Thoughts. Timber – what a player, what a buy. Saliba was huge. Ramsdale and Partey were excellent, as was Trossard when he came on. Rice was very good, intercepting well and making space for others. The City hoodoo was laid and a trophy placed on the mantelpiece.

Last thought. Arteta has now gone to Wembley 12 times as a player and manager and has won 12 times.

The final of the Champions League this season is at Wembley. Just saying! 

On to Forest at home next Saturday and the first ‘holic get together of the season. We’re off and running. 

This wonderul article by loyal Gooner Paul Brooker first appeared in Goonerholics Forever here