By Boris Mellor
May 8 2006

What an amazing day! What an amazing week. Arsenal started the week seven points behind Tottenham. Last week their fans sang “are you watching Arsenal? As they celebrated what they believed would be their entry into the Champions league.

Now they are condemned to the obscure back routes of Channel 5. Apparently Jol intends to sue as he was not aware that 4th place was decided on who was best over 38 games.

 

Meanwhile Wenger told anyone who would listen, possibly a greater number than those who believed him, that Arsenal could still win fourth place. Indeed he had every confidence that the Hammers would beat Spurs, even though seven days later the Irons would play in the cup final.

 

Then at about noon before the final games were to be played news broke that Spurs were trying to get the game called off due to alleged food poisoning. Gunner’s fans hit the phones, and websites, convinced it was a plot by Spurs to get an advantage by playing the game later in the week.

 

They need not have worried; by 1: 20 pm Spurs were told they had to play. After all Jol firmly believes that no game should be held up for minor ailments, and a touch of the squits is not a head injury.  After all “Play Play Play” was Jol’s dictum,  perhaps like Blair’s “education, education, education”  a triple emphasis on words evokes a curse. Instant karma perhaps?

 

Relieved to hear that Spurs would not be able to escape their fate I set off for Highbury.

 

Coming out of Arsenal station was chaos, as the Police made fans walk through a narrow corridor for hundreds of yards before being let out for a ticket check. No ticket and you were sent away. As soon as that ordeal was over it was a mad rush for programmes. A guy in front of me bought £60 worth, mind you that that was only twelve. But this was no rip off, the final programme is excellent.

 

For a moment I thought I was in Japan, everyone was photographing everyone and everything. As if the act of photographing could preserve the spirit of Highbury for ever.

 

Once in the ground I discovered every seat had an “I was there T shirt”. Even the away fans got them. Sheer class, and it turned the ground into a gargantuan living red and white banner.

 

The atmosphere was amazing, Arsenal fans were determined to give the ground a rousing send off, but more than that, they now believed fourth place was possible. Surely Tottenham always crap it when the chips are down, or was it lasagne?

 

Even though expectations were high, the game itself, and events at Upton Park, far exceeded them. I can’t remember a more dramatic occasion, apart from the Anderlecht game in 1970. Even when we won leagues at Highbury it was usually down to us only, at least in my lifetime. Now we had to follow two games.

 

When Pires scored on seven minutes, and the news of an early West Ham goal came through (or at least fans thought so) the crowd gave out an almighty roar, which in the middle of Arsenal conceded the first of two sloppy goals. Arsenal had been ahead for no more than two minutes. Worse was yet to come on 33 minutes Arsenal conceded one of their worst goals of the season. Lehmann did not organise a wall, and stood at the far post as the ball curled and bobbled in at the near. It was utter incompetence. The crowd were stunned, it was not going to the script. Wigan were putting Arsenal under pressure. Could it get worse?

 

However Captain Henry was having none of it, and within two minutes had the equaliser in the net. Wigan battled on, but when the match resumed after half time they rarely got a look in. On 56 minutes Wigan made a defensive error that ended their chances of a result. A slack back pass was seized on by Henry, the keeper made an excellent attempt to win the ball, but Thierry evaded him and the pursuing defenders to send the ball home. Three – two and now Arsenal were in charge.

 

Meanwhile Spurs had equalised, and Sherringham had missed a penalty, what a surprise. Henry completed his hat trick with a penalty, and kissed the sacred turf. Hansen and co decided that meant Henry is leaving. I am not so sure, why was Thierry laughing and cheering. Why did he talk about we and us and how great it was that we had put one over Spurs? Why did he talk about we still need to get through the qualifiers next season? Whatever the reason it was a magic moment, the last hat trick at Highbury, scored by the greatest player ever to wear an Arsenal shirt.

 

Now news of West Ham’s second goal filtered through. “Are you watching Tottenham” but that was not the only chant, Bergkamp wonderland was sung at the loudest ever, Rocky was remembered, as was Paddy. Arsene was cheered to the rafters every time he stepped on to the technical area. One again the crowd loved Freddy, as the "scum down the lane won feck all again, as Campbell had won the double". "Que Sera Sera, what will be will be, for we are off to gay Paree, Que Sera Sera."

 

Clearly victory was safe at Highbury, but could West Ham hold on? The game finished, and the crowd and players waited for the news. Within seconds a thousand tranny men declared it was over. The crowd went mad, so did Arsene, Henry, and the team. It was amazing – it eclipsed the closing ceremony – nothing could  be better.

 

This was as good as it gets. St Totteringham day had come late, some feared it would never arrive, but arrive it had, and it was the sweetest one of all. After all I can never remember where I was for St Totteringham day in past seasons, or when Kennedy was assassinated, but I will never forget this one.

 

Constable Alex Morgan sang O Sol Mio and the crowd joined in, Daltrey sang his anthem, but without a bouncing ball no one knew the words. The greatest part was the parade of ex Arsenal Players. Grimandi got a rousing cheer, as did Graham, Seaman, Raddy, Thomas, Charlie George. McClintock, Wilson, Bould, Dixon,  Marinello,  an embarrassed looking Pat Jennings and too many more to mention. Tragically Ray Kennedy was too ill to attend, and others no longer with us were remembered. Unfortunately the squirrel was away on a scouting mission.

 

Then a roll call of Arsenal honours, that went on for ever, as one wag said if it was Chelsea it would have been finished after a minute. Countdown, fireworks, ticker tape - and that was it – the end of an era. Most of us walked out almost in silence. Drained by the high drama of the game, and the emotion of Highbury’s spirit and history so evocatively summonsed from the past by Tom Watts

 

All credit to Watts who never once referred to the “Emirates” but to “Ashburton Grove”. Also credit to the Wigan fans who behaved impeccably at this Arsenal love fest. Also the Wigan team that played an open game of football. Jewell has done wonders.

 

Requests !

Arsenal Times does not usually do requests, and rarely uses exclamation marks. But Brian of BoF has requested at least one to mark this exceptional event. Indeed  he wanted more, I grudgingly said I would allow him one. But in actual fact it will now be three. Where is the third? Here!