Our member James Heng shares his visit to The Arsenal to watch the team take on Bournemouth in April 2026.
I am deeply thankful to the Arsenal (Singapore) Club and Dhanesh for the opportunity to attend this game against Bournemouth. A lot of it was trying my luck as I was doing the Camino walk in Spain and to get the ticket in my virgin attempt, I cannot overstate my gratitude.
This is my first time attending an Arsenal game in the Emirates stadium, and hence, I was understandably nervous and yet excited. In a typical Singaporean fashion and being kiasu as I reckon that the stadium will be packed on matchday, I went to the Emirates stadium the day before and took a stadium tour to familiarise myself with the area. I also visited the old Higbury stadium which has been developed into an apartment complex now. A chat with a local made me realise how much the club meant to the community, and how the locals are in love with the club. As I slowly strolled the surrounding of the stadium, the richness of the club’s history and the statue of the heroes of the club got me all the goosebumps. This feeling was only amplified when I walked past all the murals along Hornsey Road and reminded me of why so many people around the world support this club (for me since 1997).
On match day, there were jitters and concerns amongst the supporters given the earlier results from the FA cup loss and the performance during the UCL 1st leg against Sporting. But when the stadium sang in unison the North London Forever anthem, all our spirits were lifted and we knew there was a chance we could overcome a tricky opponent like Bournemouth. Alas, the result of the match did not turn to our favour and the performance left much to be desired. This might have been due to the pressure that the players were undergoing and their desire to bring home the EPL title after coming so close in the past few seasons. Also, the change in personnel due to the injury list added up to the level of stress. Though the result of the match left a bitter taste, I was elated that I had finally attended my first game in the Emirates stadium after being an Arsenal fan for almost 30 years. I remained hopeful that Arteta and the boys will find a way to overcome the obstacles, which is why all the Gunners around the world are now celebrating our first UCL final since 2006 and that our closest rival has succumbed to pressure and drop points (hopefully they continue to do so).
Just like what Declan Rice said, it’s not over yet. Let us not give up and fight until the very last second and dig in to our deepest inner strength and continue to support our club. COYG!
