Our member Nicholas Fheng shares his visit to The Arsenal to watch the team take on Manchester City in October 2023.

Ever since I’ve started supporting this great club, it has always been a dream to watch our team play at our home, the Emirates Stadium.

Going into this weekend, rumors of injuries and also our dreadful form against Manchester City definitely hung in the air. Nonetheless, the progress that we have shown over the years give us much hope to cling on to.

We got to the Emirates two hours before the match to soak in the festivities. Fans young and old were cheering, Gunnersaurus was making his rounds and I even witnessed some banter between our fans and the City fans. Although this was my first time catching a game, there was a warm sense of familiarity to just be ‘home’. 

We were sat at the Clock End which offered us a magnificent view of our majestic home ground. As the stadium began to fill up, that is when it dawns on you how big this club is and how much it means to all of us. These feelings were definitely galvanized as our anthem, The Angel (North London Forever) rang out amongst the sixty thousand strong.

As the game got underway, it was apparent to me why watching a game live at the Emirates far surpasses watching it on the TV or even at our National Stadium during the Asia Tours. The cheers, the jeers, the passionate reactions of the fans to every single shot and tackle, there is nothing else like it. I felt that we were evenly matched during the first half with no real big chances for both teams. It was only in the second half after some very good substitutions by Super Mik that the tide started to turn in our favor and alas, the goal by none other than Martinelli! When that net rippled, the whole Emirates stadium absolutely erupted and that is a moment that will always be ingrained in my memory.

With the goal, we knew that the game was ours and they were never going to get back into it and at the final whistle, “1-nil to the Arsenal” rang out all around. Sweet, sweet victory against our long time adversary. The curse has been broken and we go top as we head into the international break.

Thank you Arsenal Singapore, Dhanesh, Connie and team for giving us an experience we will never forget. To finally be able to say that I’ve watched the mighty Arsenal play at home is something that I as a fan will always remember. 

We are by far the greatest team, the world has ever seen! Come on you Gunners!”

Thank you and COYG!