For a travelling fan of The Arsenal, 18 months without going to Football was a tough one to deal with and we took going to games for granted.
Watching games on TV at times became unbearable and very easy to switch off with no crowds present. Many of times I just wish they had pulled the plug and started back once we could attend again, but with the amount of money in the game and TV audiences, it wasn’t going to happen.
So fans returned fully in August, and despite losing the first three games, for the social side of things it was an amazing feeling to see everyone again. One thing I will thank social media for is just that and over the pandemic I had engaged with many Arsenal fans and over the course of the season so far have been able to meet up with and enjoy a pint or two and just chat The Arsenal, many of those I now call mates and very good friends and always so supportive and topics now don’t just include The Arsenal.
This is the kind of togetherness off the field that has definitely benefitted the atmosphere inside grounds home and away so far this season. A more unity in the fanbase has blossomed and I’ll credit Mikel Arteta for this, and I’ll tell you why.
He encourages players to appreciate the fans at the end of every game no matter the score, he himself is very much one to make himself come over particularly at away games.
For me this started at Man City away, we was thumped 5-0 and I horrible watch for the travelling fans who on the day were incredible especially if you were in the lower tier, despite the scoreline sang right till leaving the stadium. It was the way the whole squad came over to thank us and stood deeply gutted about the scoreline.
From that moment I felt something had changed, Arteta had brought in players who cared about the club and by the end of August the arrivals of Ramsdale and Tomiyasu came in to add to this. Ramsdale himself has certainly been a driving force behind the player and fan connection improvement this season but as a whole Arteta has brought in players who want to be at the club and know the meaning of The Arsenal and putting on that jersey.
Those types of players are a lot harder to find these days and maybe a factor in why we didn’t add to the squad in January. I can except waiting to summer to strengthen if it means those type of players come to the club, no panic buys just proper Arsenal players.
Atmosphere has been brilliant so far this season, The Emirates has improved without doubt and the Man City game showed how together we was at full time praising the team for a brilliant performance despite defeat against a fantastic side and of course the horrendous officials! ( I won’t get started on that topic though!)
Away from home we’ve always been good but I generally think it’s gone up to new levels this season. In my spare time I like to add to the song book which I feel it’s always good to help generate the atmosphere both for club and players.
Leicester was up there with one of the best togetherness atmospheric away ends for a long long time but I loved the recent game at Wolves.
The fans were phenomenal on the concourse and in the ground. Combined between fans and players we certainly played our part to get us a brilliant 🎶1-0 to The Arsenal🎶
The Allez tune which others clubs used, was one I’ve always wanted to get out as it was about our past and in support of our great club, sounded great on the Wolves concourse and it’s definitely spreading!
🎶We won the league at Anfield,
we won it at the lane,
Stamford Bridge, Old Trafford,
no one can say the same.
Mikel Arteta’s army,
we’re Arsenal through and through,
we’ll sing it in the North Bank,
and in the Clock End too.
Allez Allez Allez🎶
Love the Saka/Smith-Rowe combined song but be good to hear individual ones.
🎶All we need is
Bukayo Saka 👏👏
Bukayo Saka 👏👏
Bukayo Saka👏👏🎶
Radio Gaga, Queen
🎶La la la, la la la la,
La la la la,
Smith-Rowe🎶
Hey Jude, The Beatles
Easy and effective and also give Ben White the old Wrighty chant.
🎶Ole ole ole ole,
Ole ole ole ole,
Benny White White White,
Benny White White White,
Benny White White White🎶
Emirates crowd will manage those I’m sure!
So for the remainder of that now becomes just a League campaign and a push for top 6/top 4 maybe, the players will really need us to keep doing what we are doing. It’s a big run in.
Come on The Arsenal!
Ben Bennett @clockendben30
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