Interview: Conor The Season Ticket Holder And Away Game Regular

OOooooooooo it’s derby day tomorrow!  How are you feeling?  Excited?  Shitting it?  Yup, I’m both and it’s a horriblay feeling to have.  One thing I have yet to tick off of my list is the big one – to attend Spuds way at the Shithole.  I’m peasily excited if I watch the match in a pub and I see a couple of Spurs fans, Lord knows what would happen if I was allowed to shout all kinds of filth at them in their own stadium.

I think everything that is absolutely amazing about football, everything that draws us to it like Sheen to a 7 gram rock, can be found in derby games.  This is when football becomes more than a sport, it becomes a part of who you are and what you believe in.

It’s when passion will coarse through your veins hours before and hours afterwards.  The dread of losing, mixed with the expectancy of victory creates such a confliction of emotions that result in such a unique feeling.  A feeling that genuinely could not be described to someone who does not follow a football team.  Or follows Chelsea.

Unfortunately I don’t to go to nearly as many games as I would like to.  I thought I’d ask a few questions to a fellow Arsenal fan, Conor, who is a regular match day attendee about some Spud related stuff.  He’s a fellow Football United Blogger over at Gooner Home and Away, and this is what he had to say.

What’s your favourite Derby Day memory?

My favourite derby day memory  is without doubt 100% winning the league at Shite Hart Lane. I mean to win the league is amazing but to win it at the home of your closest rivals from down the road, no better feeling in the world. Best part of the day was Tottenham fans celebrating stealing a late draw then realising we’d won the league at their place. No better memory than Thierry Henry and the rest of the Invincibles celebrating the win at Tottenham’s ground. Winning the league at their ground for the second time will go down as one of the greatest moments in the club’s history. 
 
What’s your least favourite Derby Day memory?

My least favourite memory would be either be the 4-4 at the Emirates or losing 2-3 at the Emirates this season. Both games we had a two goal advantage and ended up throwing it away. If I’m honest I think, for some reason, the 4-4 hurt even more because they scored 2 goals so late on and there was only a little section of their support left in the stadium.  Even their own fans didn’t see a comeback so over half left the ground. I think I didn’t speak to anyone for a good week after that, still hurts to think about it to this day.

Describe the atmosphere in the away section at the Shithole.

The atmosphere is just mental. Its not even just in the ground, I mean before the game when everyone goes to the pubs around Finsbury park to meet up it is just unbelievable. Just singing from start to finish. I mean this season in the Carling cup when we beat them 4-1 the Nasri chant really took off that night with 5000 gooners rocking the lane while all their fans emptied the ground quicker than you can say 61 never again. That night was great especially at 4-1 up we started the “Shall we make a dvd” chant. I mean our away support is fantastic every game but we then just raise our level for Spurs away, for me and a lot of others it is still our biggest game of the season. I can guarantee on Wednesday night it will be only us you can hear as we pick up 3 points at the Lane.

How do you think the relationship between us and them has changed over the last few years?

I can’t deny Tottenham have improved and to be fair it’s made the rivalry better. Now every game there’s something extra there because Spurs are no longer mid table they’re now challenging the Champions league spots every season. I think there is now more hate there than ever before between both sets of fans and you know it makes for a better atmosphere and I love it. Even on the pitch you’ve got the rivalry between Nasri and Gallas, so tempers can now flare up on the pitch as well which has added something to the game. The game is the biggest for our fans, it’s the one we all look for first when the fixtures come out for the season.

If you could inflict torture on one of the current Spuds squad, who would it be and what would you do?

Honestly I’d just love to punch Gallas right in the mouth to shut him up once and for all. It would be a dream come true.

If you had to bring one of their squad into the Arsenal team, who would it be?

I’d go for Modric. Technically amazing, he’s been their best player this season and he is a player that could fit straight in with the Arsenal way of playing. Great vision, great feet and would create so many chances for this Arsenal side. I think we were linked with him before he went to Spurs, and would have been a great signing if he would have been brought in.

Prediction for the game?

It should be a tight game, both sides will go out and attack. I reckon 2-1 Arsenal. We’ve got goals in us but we can also let hem in so I’ll go 2-1 Arsenal and Nasri to score the winner! Come on you Gunners, Red Army!

Cheers for that, Conor.  Make sure to check his blog out.  Me, I’m not going to give any predictions.  I’ll merely leave with I love Arsenal,

and I love you too.

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