There are always records at stake and I suppose when you think about it there always will be. Today there were both those of common knowledge and one of personal insignificance. Let me go back and start right from the beginning. I woke up just before 9am and after breakfast got ready to head to North London. I had told my Mum I was going to the game, while we had been watching the Reading game on Sunday afternoon but she had forgotten. Just as I was about to head out my Dad said he needed the car and would give me a lift instead. No issue. Around 10.30am, my Dad dropped me off on the corner of Castle Street and Priory Road (sorry does not have the same flavour as American street naming). I knew without my car I had to get over to the station as quickly as possible. I headed into the Octagon to pick up a few things but saw no Poppy Appeal sellers, even walking through the High Street. Never mind, that could wait. As I headed towards the station, I had an air of expectation, it had been over two months since I had last seen my team play. Once again my timing was perfect. Buying a ticket from the Fast Ticket machine, which I had expected to be out of order as there was a big queue at the ticket office, I went to check the display boards. Results. The next service was non stop to Marylebone and leaving in the next 12 minutes at 10:59am. Great. For a change I brought along my Portable DAB radio to listen to on the train journey. I had been hoping to tune into KISS but could only get a strong single on BBC Radio One and opted to listen to Vernon Kay rather than fiddle around trying to find other stations. The train was packed but I found a seat, next to a youngish couple planning their weekend spending spree on the town. Before we got into Marylebone, we were held in the tunnel for around 5 minutes while we waited for a platform to become free. This was my first visit to the terminal since the work had been completed. Two platforms have been concreted over and a new improved ticket barrier installed. The big lights with green arrows and red crosses allow even the most stupid commuter to know which queue to get into. I was impressed, particularly by Chiltern Railways standards. They run a punctual service, but that is the only positive. The trains are dirty, the staff (overall) are rude and the value for money is non-existent. Enough about that, I am only now a casual user of the network. I called Chris back to let him know I was on my way. He had called me on the train but I had rejected the call, not wanting to be rude to my fellow passengers. A quick glance at the service status board before rushing down the escalator to catch the tube. You know my journey by now, so I will not give waste time repeating myself. I had seen a group of Arsenal fans at Platform 3 back in Wycombe but did not engage in a conversation, even though I thought they would. As they boarded the same Piccadilly Line tube train was me, I started the conversation with a simple line, “What do you think the score will be today?”. They were agreed on a 3-0 score line, where as I believed Everton would score, but for the Gooners to edge it. We spoke for a while about Arsenal and the real tests ahead, games away at Bolton, Middlesborough and Newcastle. Then as we walked out of Arsenal station the ‘Mum’ of the group came and spoke to me and asked where I was sitting. She was a season ticket holder. Lucky person. I said goodbye as they went headed to the pub and I headed to Highbury. Arsenal no longer play at Highbury, Teg! I hear you cry and your computer screen. Well Terry sent me some pictures of Highbury and the current situation with the residential development. I wanted to go and check out the demolition for myself. So heading around to the East Stand, I took various pictures. The road has been closed off and a crane is putting the scaffolding across the old East Stand, a listed building. It was strange to be here on match day to find it so empty apart from the burger and kebab vans. They had to stay, they were not going to blight the landscape and photo opportunities of the new stadium. I was surprised that not more fans had come to pay a homage to the old stadium. I suppose as the saying goes, out with the old, in with the new. It was a few minutes after midday and I was extremely early. I had planned to meet Terry at 1:15pm outside Finsbury Park, so had over 45 odd minutes to kill. I decided to walk over to the station and take a look around the old Arsenal World Of Sport shop but there was nothing that really took my fancy. Well I say that but I was staring at the The Final Salute Limited edition (only 750 produced) photo frame with the last match at Highbury. Tempting but I cannot afford it at the moment. Maybe if I’m good, something for next year. I then waited outside the station, which is another construction site, much like the rest of the N5. Sent a few texts to Terry and he was on his way. However due to the British Transport Police sending commuters out of the rear entrance Terry rang me to ask where I was before finding me outside the Arsenal Print Room. We headed to the ground. I had purchased a programme and official year book from a stand outside the station, when usually I wait until I am outside the Grove. We split up as we were taking different turnstiles up to the upper tier and met outside block 107, which was half way between out two seats. We got a few drinks and I got some food while we watched the Arsenal Television channel in the wonder of HD. Chelsea were beating Sheffield United 2-0 at Bramall Lane which was also being screened on selective screens. At about 2.40pm, we said our goodbyes and headed for our seats. I was looking forward to a good view of the game.

Much better than row 32 for the Champions League Qualifier back in August, but then there is not really a bad view at the Emirates. The rest of my photos have been uploaded to FlickR as always. I had a seat at the end of the aisle, so could make a quick getaway at full time. The atmosphere was rather flat and the Evertonians were making the most sound, ironic as they were about a fifth in size to the rest of the home crowd. It is to be expected, we are still getting used to our new home. Although the atmosphere did improve dramatically over the course of the match. It was bound to happen, we were going to go a goal down yet again. Just like our games against Villa and Boro. However, this was after sustained Arsenal pressure. They got a corner and Cahill, managed to scramble the ball into the back of the net. I held my head in my hands. Could we come back and win? There was one fact overriding factor. Whenever I have seen Arsenal play, they have never lost. They have also gone a goal down before and come back. In the first half we made opportunities but we did not look convincingly like taking our chances. This changed in the second half. Le Boss must had had some strong words because Everton were camped out in their own half for the majority of the game. (78% according to highlights on BBC MOTD). Such a relief when Van Persie fired in the free kick, but we should never have been a goal down in the first place. Falling asleep at the back just is not acceptable, particularly at home. We showed heart and conviction in the second half but it was a case of too little too late. Even the additions of Walcott and Aliadière proved unsuccessful in the hunt for a winner. Although both players made a great contribution to our attacking play. Overall a disappointing result but it could have been worse. Going to sit back and watch the highlights now but thankfully in a year of firsts, I have completed yet another. Today was my first ever Saturday afternoon football match. Quite extraordinary, when you think about it. Every other Saturday I am sitting at home watching Soccer Saturday or listening to the scores on FiveLive or LBC as they come in from the grounds. Refreshing to make a change from the normal.