The journey began about 26 years ago, when the news in Complete sports magazine broke that Nicholas Anelka had joined Arsenal FC, I stared at the newspaper headlines in the stand with awe and confusion that the legendary Ian Wright’s position would be impacted. In the silence, tears flowed down my cheeks and the dream of having an Ian Wright jersey was at risk. The dilemma for a teenager like me at the time was, is this how a legend would be treated?
Every Monday morning on my way to school I had to check the sports dailies just to satisfy myself that Ian Wright played and hoped he scored, then the unthinkable happened. Late 1997, Ian Wright suffered a long-term injury and Anelka would be the focal point of our attack with the Dutch playmaker, Dennis Bergkamp and Scottish striker, Paul Dickov supporting him. The duo alongside captain fantastic, Tony Adams and midfield enforcer, Patrick Viera and host of others will steer Arsenal to the league title in the 1997/1998 season and winning the FA cup title to achieve the “Double”. So long as Ian Wright, my idol, was part of the winning team it no longer mattered who made up the team.
Then the steaming rivalry of the ‘Fergie/Wenger” era, the tenacity of the “Roy Keane/Viera” hostilities, the menacing Thiery Henry finishing, the consistent Dennis Bergkamp 3D type flicks and passes, the burgeoning Marc Overmars runs, the implausible David Seaman saves, the doggedness of Frederick Lumberg and many more nurtured my love for one man to the whole team and the fanatical support for Arsenal FC was established.
I remember the viewing center in dangerous neighbourhood of Fadeyi in Lagos where we would divert traffic to watch the nervous Arsenal FC vs Manchester United games and in the heat of the moment fights broke out amidst the tensions. Thankfully I was never affected nor hurt but many years later I learnt it was dangerous watching matches at that venue, but I must admit it was really a fun place hoping to write about it soon.
Then the impossible season came to pass in the 2003/2004 season, thirty-eight long games without a loss and I can’t remember missing any of the matches on live TV, every match towards the end became a nightmare, any shot from the opponent was saved by me on the TV, you dare not say anything negative about Arsenal FC or you became my instant enemy. Thiery Henry had become the face of the club and team became the darling of the English Premier League (EPL), a feat not yet repeated by any team in the top leagues of Europe.
Twenty years on, the club needs an eight-match winning streak after a tough draw at Anfield, the home stadium of Liverpool FC. With matches against Chelsea, Newcastle and the main contenders Manchester City, I have my doubts that the club will win the title, but hope lies the heart of the fortress for the enemies must fall even if I don’t hold. May 28th holds a date for my club and I promise if we win the title, my dream jersey signed by Ian Wright and won by Bukayo Saka will come home.
Utilizing Excel for Program Management