Flashbacks

Last updated : 05 July 2002 By Brian Dawes

The agony of Tottenham fans when Sol moved to the better end of Seven Sisters Road – and the Nike advert that followed about a move from White Hart Lane to Highbury being the shortest route into Europe. Followed within hours by Campbell 23 shirts being worn around North London as the ultimate wind-up for the Tiny Totts.

Betting both Tottenham and Chelsea fans that we'd finish higher in the League than them. Does money come any easier than that?

Our first match in the Gold shirts at Boro when Dennis started his season off with two goals - Middlesborough 0-4 Arsenal. How could I fail to love that shirt now?

Joke refereeing by Jeff Winter who put in a pitiful performance when we played Leeds at Highbury - Arsenal 1-2 Leeds

Standing on a terrace for the first time in years at Craven Cottage, seeing Sol kiss the shirt in front of the travelling fans after the final whistle. - Fulham 1-3 Arsenal

Sol Campbell getting it on at White Hart Lane with his first crunching tackle. Singing his song and watching him overcome the pathetic abuse. Highly emotional stuff in a highly charged atmosphere. Scum 1-1 Arsenal

Enjoying Chelsea thrash Manure on TV in a pub in Ipswich before our match at Portman Road and then watching us stroll to another away win. - Ipswich 0-2 Arsenal

Taylor's brilliant save against Del Piero - Arsenal 3-1 Juventus

Arsene Wenger signing his contract. Just why did we speculate and agonise about him doing so for all that time? The man was about to become a legend.

Planning permission from Islington Council was finally given for THOF2 – Asburton Grove is go.

A perfect tackle by Campbell concedes a penalty, earns a yellow and sets up Newcastle's first win in London for a thousand years - thanks to the biggest arsehole ever to officiate at Highbury : Graham Poll – Arsenal 1-3 Newcastle. Thank goodness the prat only got one game at the World Cup!

Freddie celebrating a great goal at Anfield when we beat them with ten men after Durkin the gurkin sent Gio off to gratify his pathetic ginger-haired ego. - Liverpool 1-2 The ten men.

Wiltord's fluke in an awful match at Everton and Upson getting another serious injury, this was the game that started the winning sequence of 13 straight wins – Everton 0-1 Arsenal

Tony back with a goal against Gillingham in the Cup – Arsenal 5-2 Gillingham

Blackburn beating Tottenham in the Worthless Cup Final - how we laughed. Better yet - all the Tiny Totts all crawled back under their stones.

Dennis's classic goal at Newcastle - Newcastle 0-2 Arsenal. Chant of the day was ‘Where's your famous atmosphere?' Although I must admit that viewing Bergkamp's goal from the third tier and at the other end of the ground to boot I needed to see the TV replays to appreciate just how brilliant it really was.

Edu's Cup goal at Newcastle a week later and his absolute delight in scoring shared with the fabulous travelling Gooners. - Newcastle 1-1 Arsenal

Bob's brilliant goal at Villa Park right in front of us at Villa Park! Aston Villa 1-2 Arsenal. Another great away day.

All those drunken Geordies at Highbury for the Cup replay – silenced by the Gunners. The horrible sight of Bobby Pires carried off on a stretcher - Arsenal 3-0 Newkie Broons. I really thought we wouldn't crack it without Bob.

The first airing of Freddie's Anthem at Charlton where we'd won the game before half time. The team coming across to the fans at the end of the game because, they knew that we knew, that they knew the season could be a bit special - Charlton 0-3 Arsenal. Seeing myself on the Premiership programme that evening was an unexpected bonus.

The absolute relief of seeing Ralph's crucial, but decidedly dodgy, penalty against the Scum creep home - Arsenal 2-1 Tiny Totts. The Gods were with us – Wrighty and all the rest of them.

Handing out seat stickers at the Old Trafford Semi-final that said "We'll be back for the Premiership on May 8th, be sure to have it ready! – The Gooners" Arsenal 1-0 Middlesborough. Crap game but the result was everything.

Ashley Cole clearing off the line against West Ham, or not – Arsenal 2-1 West Ham.

The Arsenal fans at Bolton doing us proud, yet again – Freddie getting his 6th goal in our last 5 games – Bolton 0-2 Arsenal.

Getting our tickets in the post for the United away game when I'd almost given up.

All those Freddie hairstyles in Cardiff. - Ray's power drive and Freddie's fabulous solo goal - Arsenal 2-0 Chelsea. - Seeing Lee Dixon wheeling away behind the goal in celebration on the replays. - Wiltord snogging the Cup. - Patrick lifting the trophy with Tony. - Lee Dixon standing alone in the middle of the pitch with a bottle of Champagne. - Drinking Champagne in an Italian Restaurant in Bridgend that evening and humming the introduction to Freddie's Anthem all night – arriving back at our hotel in a taxi just in time to see Ray score on the highlights programme

Collecting my winning bet from an obnoxious, loud mouthed Chelsea fan.
Doing a radio interview on our way to Old Trafford. - Leaving the pub before the match when Brian Moore stood up and said ‘Right then – shall we go and win the double'. -Meeting so many Gooners before kick-off who felt that tonight was the night. - The incredible atmosphere inside Old Trafford and the filthy Mancs on the pitch. – Young Harry Crawford's penalty shoot-out at half time. - Wiltord scoring that goal which took forever to go in - Manure 0-1 Arsenal. - John being especially delighted because he had Wiltord at 10-1 for the first goal. - Realising that were still on track to score in every League game and knowing that had gone the entire season unbeaten away from home. - That banner - 'Old Trafford - Champions Section' the stuff of legends. - Waving goodbye to United fans with ten minutes still to go. - Singing we've WON the League in Manchester for the first time - Singing ‘Champions' once again and loving it. - Manure 0-1 Arsenal. I'm gonna wear that gold shirt for all my future visits to Old Trafford!

Seeing on TV for the first time the now classic ‘It's only Ray Parlour' quote by Tim Lovejoy on Soccer AM

Mass singing, Fireworks and Champagne outside ‘The Gunners' before our last League game - Elvis heading the ball during the match - Arsenal 4-3 Everton - The North Stand Upper doing the notorious Championship bounce - Everyone in the squad lifting the trophy and the homage paid to Pires by his team-mates. - Elvis wigs on the players. - Arsene looking relaxed for the first time all season. - Mobbing Arsene Wenger's silver Mercedes as he headed north past Finsbury Park.

Seeing that fabulous old defence again against Celtic in Tone's testimonial, and better yet seeing them catch Celtic offside within two minutes.

Seeing pretty well every Gooner in the World with an ear to ear grin that's gonna last the summer. Great season wasn't it? No you're right, it wasn't great it was brilliant.