So here goes.
First, we've heard a little bit about it hear and there, but it was funny seeing ole Arsene's bust the first thing you step into the stadium for the tour. Yes, Herbert Chapman's there, but of course, Arsene's there to greet you. Not bad, and everyone gets to pose with Le Boss while waiting to get in.
That's exactly what I did. Stood there, had my photo taken, and then lo and behold, I peak down, and right there, at the bottom of his bust, in the smallest of Latin words, the inscription: "I only buy them cheap and good". Hmmm. Wonder what that means.
Anyhows, from there, it's a little walk up to the Directors' box, where you get to see and feel what all the hot shots do on match days. They even have little tiny plaques with each person's name at the bottom of the seat on the floor. But more than that, the views...mmmm....
That's exactly what I did. Stood there, had my photo taken, and then lo and behold, I peak down, and right there, at the bottom of his bust, in the smallest of Latin words, the inscription: "I only buy them cheap and good". Hmmm. Wonder what that means.
Anyhows, from there, it's a little walk up to the Directors' box, where you get to see and feel what all the hot shots do on match days. They even have little tiny plaques with each person's name at the bottom of the seat on the floor. But more than that, the views...mmmm....
So we're allowed our time to get all teary-eyed and sniffly, eternally grateful to be given the opportunity of having such a view. Photos galore, questions galore, and information galore. (For example: did you know that in a quick Transformers-like switch, the whole away section can be like, retracted to allow for things like fire engine access? Neat way of getting rid of Spurs fans too). All sweet.
In a while, you hear the pleas...changing room, changing room, please please please! And we're off. A bit like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, actually.
It's pretty nice, to say the least, and we're told all about the design rationales, the feng shui involved. Yes. Feng Shui - no sharp corners, it ain't a square, everyone open and facing each other, etc. And one of the first things I see that day was the white board. Now, this was pre-season, just before the Warsaw game, methinks, but someone forgot to rub off the board. Funny. Probably meant for Carlos Vela.
Yes, yes. Besides sitting exactly where the players would sit, becoming aware of what the super duper non-slip floor is made of, what the special cushions do (they keep your heart-beat going at pre-half time rates. Serious!), you get sight of the shirts hanging where they're supposed to be hanging. Defenders with defenders, midfielders with midfielders, and strikers with strikers. There was a special time-out chair for Gallas too. But my favourites:
Now this is probably what people would think of as the highlight of the tour, and we all get a dose of photos, oogling at their state-of-the-art water/spa treatment pool, the massage/therapy room, and for those so inclined, even the toilets. Now that was sorta out of bounds, but I wonder if everyone gets their own dedicated loo. Anyhows, after the changing room is...drum roll, being taken out on to the pitch through the tunnel just like it's do on match days. That was pretty special.
You walk out of the tunnel, onto the pitch, and everyone's like wow.......so this is it. Of course it helped that it was a brilliant day out to be on the pitch, and the playing surface looks just as good, if not better, than it does on the telly. It was nice too, that they let us sit around the dug out, some happily finding out they had their arses on Wenger's seat. I satisfied myself with some of the substitute seats at the back.
It was all in all, pretty cool, and I could think of fewer better ways to spend an hour and a half with the kids in London. (Yes - secret tactic of further embedding into their (sub)consciousness the wonder of the Arsenal). Even better - straight after the tour, you're led into the Armoury where we're all let loose like kids in a candy shop. Oh yeah, Arsewiper Jr got himself a bag of official Arsenal sweets (vanilla fudge, for those who want to know). Suffise to say, apart from the sweets, I did my fair share to pad up our transfer kitty. Next step: one of those Highbury apartments.
It's pretty nice, to say the least, and we're told all about the design rationales, the feng shui involved. Yes. Feng Shui - no sharp corners, it ain't a square, everyone open and facing each other, etc. And one of the first things I see that day was the white board. Now, this was pre-season, just before the Warsaw game, methinks, but someone forgot to rub off the board. Funny. Probably meant for Carlos Vela.
Yes, yes. Besides sitting exactly where the players would sit, becoming aware of what the super duper non-slip floor is made of, what the special cushions do (they keep your heart-beat going at pre-half time rates. Serious!), you get sight of the shirts hanging where they're supposed to be hanging. Defenders with defenders, midfielders with midfielders, and strikers with strikers. There was a special time-out chair for Gallas too. But my favourites:
Now this is probably what people would think of as the highlight of the tour, and we all get a dose of photos, oogling at their state-of-the-art water/spa treatment pool, the massage/therapy room, and for those so inclined, even the toilets. Now that was sorta out of bounds, but I wonder if everyone gets their own dedicated loo. Anyhows, after the changing room is...drum roll, being taken out on to the pitch through the tunnel just like it's do on match days. That was pretty special.
You walk out of the tunnel, onto the pitch, and everyone's like wow.......so this is it. Of course it helped that it was a brilliant day out to be on the pitch, and the playing surface looks just as good, if not better, than it does on the telly. It was nice too, that they let us sit around the dug out, some happily finding out they had their arses on Wenger's seat. I satisfied myself with some of the substitute seats at the back.
It was all in all, pretty cool, and I could think of fewer better ways to spend an hour and a half with the kids in London. (Yes - secret tactic of further embedding into their (sub)consciousness the wonder of the Arsenal). Even better - straight after the tour, you're led into the Armoury where we're all let loose like kids in a candy shop. Oh yeah, Arsewiper Jr got himself a bag of official Arsenal sweets (vanilla fudge, for those who want to know). Suffise to say, apart from the sweets, I did my fair share to pad up our transfer kitty. Next step: one of those Highbury apartments.
I was pretty tempted to take in a tour of Old Trafford or Anfield after that too, just for the heck of it, but Mrs Arsewiper asked me why, and if I was mad. She was probably right. I've seen both, watched matches now at both, so why bother. Nothing's gonna beat the Emirates.
Ciao then. I'm going to be Swiss tonight. Go Young Boys!!
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