The Emirates Stadium - Arsenal F.C - 2011
With Highbury now a collection of expensive flats Arsenal now call 'The Emirates' home (sponsors name). This is just down the road from the old ground and is pretty much world class!
Many Leeds fans I were with named it 'little Wembley'. Apparently the stadium itself was purchased from a catalogue from the Australian company who built it. On budget and ahead of schedule! It really is an amazing stadium. Arsenal have spent the last years imprinting a bit of history onto the stadium, such as renaming the stands after the stands at highbury and erecting placards and banners to celebrate past players and trophies. Leeds fans were sat in the corner of what is now called the 'Clock End' and has a replica clock from the old Highbury stadium installed in the roof. Little touches to try and inject a bit of personality into it.
The game itself was another classic FA cup game that Leeds have been serving up recently. We were very much under pressure from the start but kept it goaless up to half time. Leeds fans were in brilliant voice, perhaps contradicting the recent critisms of the lack of atmosphere in the stadium.
Second half Leeds scored via a Snodgrass penalty which snuck in under their goalkeeper. We tried desperately to hang on but Arsenal brought on Fabregas and Walcott, who effectively combined to win and score a penalty in the final minute. A draw was probably a fair result, however we needed Kasper to be in top form to Keep Arsenal out in injury time.
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