NFT Map: 74
Website: www.arsenal.com or @Arsenal
Phone: 020 7619 5000
Box office: boxoffice@arsenal.co.uk
Location: Highbury House, 75 Drayton Park, London N5 1BU
Regardless of how many years may have passed since Arsenal last stuffed another piece of silverware into their full trophy cabinet, Arsene Wenger continues to avoid splashing the cash on top names, instead building a young thriving team out of foreign talent and an exciting new crop of home-grown kids. The problem with this is that during the start of every new season at the Emirates it is inevitable that a pundit will proclaim this will be the year Arsenal’s young side realize their full potential, but just as equally inevitable, a big money club will breeze in and buy out marquee players adding to the fans dismay and Wenger’s greys. However, Arsenal is historically London’s greatest club and holds numerous national records with a trophy room packed with more silver than any other, save Manchester United and Liverpool. T’was not always thus of course. From humble beginnings south of the river, Arsenal built themselves up from roots level, with glory years seeming to come in waves. The mid-80s saw the instatement of George Graham, a hugely popular former player, who begat a powerful, muscular side captained by local hero Tony Adams. Wenger brought a continental flavour to the team and an invigorating playing style—the once “boring, boring Arsenal” started playing “sexy football” which reached its zenith with the 2003–04 “Invincibles” who went the entire season without losing a game. Following Arsenal is not always an easy ride. It’s surprising that so many people still flock to the Emirates stadium in Holloway given the stupendous ticket prices. If you’re lucky enough to have the £1000s needed for a decent season ticket then you get to sit in a huge, soulless stadium named after an airline company to watch what are ostensibly a bunch of bloody foreigners. On the plus side, those bloody foreigners play some of the most dazzling football in Europe and you never know, this just could be the year Arsenal’s young team realizes their full potential (groan).
By Car: Unless you have a resident’s permit to get around the Event Day Parking Scheme always in effect, it’s impossible to park on-street. Which is to say, don’t bother bringing a car.
By Public Transport: Arsenal (Piccadilly Line) is the nearest tube station, around three minutes walk from the ground. Finsbury Park (Victoria, Piccadilly Lines and Great Northern rail) and Highbury & Islington (Victoria Line, North London Line and Great Northern rail) stations are around a 10-minute walk—these should be slightly less crowded.
As Arsenal play some damn sexy football, tickets are not easy to come by. However, in the new, swanky Emirates Stadium there is always going to be one or two no-shows or corporate tickets that have slipped into the wrong hands. Members have first dibs on tickets and snap them up but the less scrupulous ones sell them on to make a fast buck. Try Gumtree or matchday touts if you really must. To be honest, it’s probably one of the rare instances where it really is worth the hassle.