ONE afternoon in May 2006, I spent a couple of hours at Highbury with Thierry Henry.
It was a few days before the club’s last ever game at the famous old stadium and true to form, the Frenchman scored a hat-trick in a 4-2 win over Wigan.
Thierry Henry spoke to JattvibeSport’s Charlie Wyett at Highbury 20 years ago Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Henry said there was ‘something special about the place’ Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
We wandered around the ground, through the famous Marble Halls in the wonderful art-deco East Stand, into the tiny dressing rooms and across into the North Bank.
One of the best players in the world at the time, Henry was always a proper ground nerd and he admitted leaving for the Emirates – in those days more people called it Ashburton Grove – was going to be a huge wrench.
I remember him welling up as he looked across the Highbury pitch. Henry told me: “The club is right to move to Ashburton Grove, as it has now outgrown Highbury.
“Yet there is simply something special about the place. Something you will never be able to reproduce anywhere else.
“I always tell people that going to Highbury is like going into a time-machine – back to the era of black and white.
“I have shown some of my family around the dressing rooms and they simply cannot understand why I get so excited.
“They ask ‘where are the plasma TVs or the jacuzzis?’ It is just a simple, smallish room with white tiles.
“But you can feel the history in there. The fact no one has tried to modernise it makes it even more special.
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The Emirates Stadium could do with an update, 20 years on from its opening Credit: Getty
Ian Wright joined Arsenal fans for a party on the streets of North London on Tuesday Credit: Getty
Thousands of Arsenal fans took to the Emirates on Tuesday after the Gunners were confirmed champions Credit: PA
“The only difference now is that the windows, which once opened on to Avenell Road below, are sealed.
“That has something to do with players’ clothes being bundled out into the street. The last time was for Martin Keown‘s testimonial two years ago, with a certain Ian Wright being involved.
“The reason so many people will be sad to see us leave Highbury is that there is a special love of grounds in this country. You do not get such a thing in France or Italy.”
Henry arrived at Arsenal in 1999 after leaving Juventus who were playing at their hated Stadio Delle Alpi Stadium which was knocked down.
And you can understand why so many fans really struggled when the club left Highbury.
The first game at the Emirates in July 2006 was Dennis Bergkamp’s testimonial against Ajax and I covered it for JattvibeSport.
I don’t think Dennis Bergkamp, Henry, or anyone at the club during that time, would have expected that Arsenal would fail to win the Premier League title in the next two decades. But now they have done it.
On social media on Wednesday, Henry wrote: “From Highbury seats to the Emirates – Arsenal nation, finally we can celebrate.
“Special thanks to this generation – finally now my kids saw us winning the league.”
All the latest on Arsenal’s title win…
Arsenal mark 20 years at the Emirates next season Credit: Getty
Funnily enough, one of the iconic moments at the Emirates was Henry scoring on his return on loan in an FA Cup tie against Leeds in 2012.
However, I think that the fact that this new generation have celebrated a title here will boost the atmosphere at the stadium. Those who fondly remember Highbury will, even just a little bit, start to fall in love with the Emirates as history has now been made.
I genuinely believe the atmosphere at the ground next season will be better than ever.
The club is likely to mark 20 years at the stadium and there should be some Emirates Cup matches before the season.
The stadium is looking tired and the club is looking at redeveloping the site.
While they could potentially expand the stadium forcing a temporary move to Wembley, I still think this would be too costly.
I reckon the club will decide to rip out all the executive boxes and start again. Corporate hospitality is where the money is and it could still cost the club over £100million.
However, I still love the Emirates purely because of the way it hides behind all those buildings in N7 until you are virtually at the club shop.
You leave Holloway Road tube station and would never know there is a 60,000 seater stadium about a three minute walk away.
On Tuesday night, after Manchester City drew at Bournemouth, it provided the backdrop to some incredible celebrations.
However, it is not my favourite Premier League ground. Here is the bit where Arsenal fans might have to look away.
Charlie’s top five Premier League stadiums
At No5, I have Villa Park.
It is a ‘proper’ football stadium and I had a real soft spot for Aston Villa following their First Division and European Cup successes in the early eighties.
Old Trafford is No4 in Charlie’s top five stadiums Credit: PA
Anfield has one of the best atmospheres in English football Credit: Getty
My first trip there as a fan was for the 1989 FA Cup semi-final between Everton and Norwich.
At No4, I have Old Trafford.
It is a fine, large ground but is looking even more tired than the Emirates.
Equally, I do not like the designs for the new stadium.
At No3, is the Emirates, because of the location, really. I do like the design but it does need modernising.
At No2, is Anfield. A ground which has definitely improved over the years and the flags in the Kop before games is a fine sight.
At No1 is the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Considering it cost £1billion, it should be outstanding and it is.
I thought the idea to have a single-tier stand – to avoid the ground being symmetrical – was a great idea but the atmosphere in the South Stand is still a major disappointment.
However, for Arsenal fans, it is obvious where their No1 stadium is – and I am sure they will have a few more celebrations there over the next couple of years.
Tottenham’s £1billion stadium is Charlie’s top pick Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Villa Park is another top ground Credit: Getty
