2nd.Best.Day.Ever.

My best day ever as an Arsenal supporter was and always will be the day that Arsenal won the league at Old Trafford in 2002. Sat in a pub in Amsterdam, the only Gooner in the place, leaping out of my chair like a madman when Wiltord and Ljungberg conspired to score "that goal," suddenly looking around at all the shaved heads around me and convinced I would be knifed at any second--it is perhaps the greatest moment in my life as a fan of sport. And how could it not be?

Arsenal had been pipped for the title for 3 consecutive years by United and the narrative was that they were bottlers who played fancy football but came up empty. And at that moment, all the pain of losing the title, losing to the Scouse cunnys in the FA Cup due to their cheating us, losing to Valencia on that John Carew header when the damn big cup should have been ours--it all melted away.

"The simple fact is, Manchester United have to score twice to stop Arsenal taking the title."
What a moment it was.

Watch it. Just watch that glorious moment when Freddie stings the palms of Barthez and Wiltord is there to pounce. You may not have even been following Arsenal at that time but just like Alan Sunderland's goal or Charlie George, you get to share in it if you love the Arsenal.

Charlie George--Everybody deserves a Charlie George moment in his or her life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm_KEbd4rEY

Alan Sunderland--the divine afro! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYXKwBy4_Fg

I've been following the Arsenal Football Club since 1996. It has been 19 years of ups and downs, highs and lows. I don't know of too many Yanks who have been with them that long. And of late, I've been so unhappy with things that I've turned openly rebellious against the gaffer and the "majority shareholder." I've missed the cigar-smoking presence of PHW and the smug grin of David Dein. I've just wished that PV4 would stride onto the pitch and kick the shite out of someone for old time's sake.

I have accrued some amazing memories. Marc Overmars. Tony Adams. Nigel Winterburn. DB10. TH14. "It's only Ray Parlour."

"He gave Ryan Giggs the ball. And Arsenal won fuck all!" I was there for that one.

Freddie's goal against Chelsea in the 2002 FA Cup Final.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcE2RCKXK7I

Or maybe this one--remember our old pal Marty Keown? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1dfphE6jOs Or look at PV4 and Keane? Seen it? Remember it? Edu talking shit to Crissie Ronaldo? What a moment. What an incredible moment to be a fan of a football club. I'll never forget it ever.

PV4's spot kick in 2005. I was there for it all.

Well I want to say something now that I've established my credentials.

Today was my second favourite day ever as an Arsenal supporter. I'll never forget it. I'll never forget the moment that Nacho was awarded a penalty from "the old enemy" ref. I'll never forget Alexis winning that free kick and OG's header. I'll never forget the incredibly brave performance of five players:
Hector Bellerin
Per Mertesacker
Koz
Nacho
Le Coq

I don't even know what to say at this moment. I was like a madman after the match. I was yelling and screaming and talking so loud that I forget everything. I didn't know where I was or what I was doing.

All I could see was Bellerin charging around like a little terrier, like a Spanish Nigel Winterburn. Or Per and Koz doing such heroic work when they both seemed completely about to go arse over tit. Or Nacho going to Ospina and saying "Lo siento" when he accidentally intercepted a ball and jacked it completely over the goal. Or Le Coq looking like that boy we remember from before "THE WORST GUY EVER" stamped on him and essentially stole 2 years of his career.

Christ on a cross wasn't Coq amazing? He...just never, ever fucking stopped. He was everywhere. He never put a foot wrong.

Aaron Ramsey was the beautiful midfield general we love. Santi Cazorla was--well, he was special. And Alexis? My god. That man can play some football, eh?

I got to tell my future mum-in-law to shove it today. Not bad.

I'll say nothing churlish about this game's implications for the rest of the season. All I want to say is--

In the nearly 20 years I've been following the Arsenal, this is my second favourite day ever. Ever. They stood up. Even with a makeshift back 5 (six if you count Le Coq), they kept a clean sheet. They fought. They were clean. They were organised. They were tight.

They stopped Aguero and Silva and Jovetic and Dzeko (all players that I have sincerely coveted for wearing an Arsenal shirt over the past few years). They stopped them stone fucking cold.

What a beautiful day. What a great day to be an Arsenal supporter. I am so happy I feel like I might burst or just float away.

2-nil to the Arsenal. What a wonderful thing.