disposables
Words: Hugo Greenhalgh
Images: Hugo Greenhalgh
With 10 games to go and Arsenal perched on the top of the table, the mood was high in North London. We were pinching ourselves that this wasn’t a dream and we really were eight points clear of Man City, heading into April.
Caught up in the excitement of these giddy heights, I parted ways with a small fortune for a disposable camera. I wanted to capture moments of the run-in, hoping we were on the cusp of an historic season.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal had surprised everyone by setting the pace as league leaders. The youthful exuberance of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard had made this side great fun to watch, and we were having our most enjoyable season in years.
Taking the camera to games or to the pub became a ritual and it did document some fun moments. Its first outing was promising, with a comfortable 4-1 win over Leeds, on a rainy April Fools Day.
Sadly, it was the next four games which marked our fate with a tragic inevitability. Back to back 2-2 draws away to West Ham and Liverpool, were followed by a chaotic game at the Emirates against Southampton that finished 3-3. With City our next opponents, this drop in form didn’t bode well.
The performance at City was chastening. We were outclassed from the outset and our players, who had battled so hard throughout the season, looked tired and out of ideas.
It felt gutting seeing those dreams disintegrate in front of us. We were so clearly second best to City in every department. But by the light of day, a certain pride began to shine through.
©Hugo Greenhalgh/ Terrace Edition. Arsenal FC.
Whatever happened, this had been a memorable season and given us some unforgettable moments.
Arteta’s side seemed to thrive off last minute winners, as games against Villa and United had shown. These could only be topped by Reiss Nelson’s 97th minute goal against Bournemouth for the sheer pandemonium it created on the pitch, and in the stands at the Emirates.
In search of just one more moment like that, my friends and I booked trains and a hostel to Newcastle for a Bank Holiday weekender in May. Even if the title was slipping away, we knew we could enjoy a trip up North and after all, Arteta had told us, it’s not about the journey or the destination…it’s the company.
That said, the destination isn’t bad either. Newcastle remains one of this country’s most dramatic cities and St James’ Park is a truly spectacular place to watch football - even if you might want to take binoculars into the away stand.
We were out for some vengeance, after Eddie Howe’s time-wasting tactics at the home encounter - and Arsenal delivered. A wonderful strike from Odegaard put Arsenal in control, and while the remainder of the game was tense and fiercely competitive, it reminded us that the future of this side looks promising.
“We’ve got super Mik Arteta, he knows exactly what we need…”
At the final whistle, I snapped a few more shots of the celebrations. The beaming smiles and giddy grins tell their own stories. We might not have won the title, but it had been a bloody good laugh along the way.
©Hugo Greenhalgh/ Terrace Edition. Arsenal FC.
©Hugo Greenhalgh/ Terrace Edition. Arsenal FC.
©Hugo Greenhalgh/ Terrace Edition. Arsenal FC.
©Hugo Greenhalgh/ Terrace Edition. Arsenal FC.
©Hugo Greenhalgh/ Terrace Edition. Arsenal FC.
©Hugo Greenhalgh/ Terrace Edition. Arsenal FC.
©Hugo Greenhalgh/ Terrace Edition. Arsenal FC.
Hugo is on Twitter and Instagram: @HugoGreenhalgh
