So now we know! The defence of our title begins at 8pm on Friday August 21st at home to “Frank Lampard’s” new promoted Coventry City. Some of you will remember that last year I wrote an open letter too Richard Masters on this site last year asking the Premier League to consider putting all opening day fixtures together at 3pm on the first Saturday of the season. I still think that this should happen and maybe it will when the next broadcast deal is agreed.
Turning London town red again
So while there will doubtless there will be the usual indignant shouts into the ether from the perennially angry Social warriors, but it is what it is and given that we effectively get the Opening Day to ourselves then let’s just take it and make sure that we make it a Friday night to remember. Let’s all book the afternoon (or the whole day if you are not local) off work and descend en masse to N5.
North London forever…..
There will only be around 60,000 lucky souls with tickets for the game, but as the last four weeks and three days has shown, we are massive! This fixture gives us another fantastic opportunity to show the world what it means to be an Arsenal fan by turning the whole of North London red again. From the Angel to Finsbury Park (and every shithole in between – to paraphrase the great Mr Dunford) we can pack the streets and the pubs and send a message to the rest of the League and to Europe that we are here now and that we are here to stay.
After review…….it’s done
Whilst I am happy to admit that I am enjoying the current World Cup, I am so excited for the coming season. The gold badge on the shirt, the flag flying at the Emirates and every grim faced anti-Arsenal commentator and pundit being forced through gritted teeth to refer to us a ‘the Champions, Arsenal’ are all going to fill me with endless joy. And remember, let’s be unbearable: at all times. None of should ever forget the level of sustained abuse that we have suffered over the past few seasons and the gloating from the same people after we were robbed in Budapest. This is our time, so let’s revel in every minute of it.
And finally
Can we go one better in Europe and make Madrid a sea of red on June 5th next year.