Barcelona to Cardiff.

During my recent holiday breaks, visiting different cities in Europe, I managed to get a photo of the stadium of the local football team. 

Guy & Dan going to the Nou Camp. 

Ronaldinho crosses the ball. 

Inside the Nou Camp. 

Some very old football game tables. 

The Closest  I’ve ever got to The European Cup. 

Outside the Nou Camp. 

The boys loved it when everyone started waving white tissues and handkerchiefs after the referee gave a decision against Barcelona. 

I took my grandson to watch Barcelona play Athletico Bilbao and my wife to Prague - San Sebastian - Naples & Séville. 

Sparta Prague. 

Real Sociedad. 

Inside Napoli stadium - I should have used the flash. 

Outside Napoli stadium. 

Seville. 

Seville. 

Seville. 

The Wall tiles are replica badges of the teams Seville have played against. 

I also took both of my grandchildren for their first and last tour of Highbury stadium. 

Guy in the Changing Room. 

Hollie in the Changing Room. 

Giving a Press Conference. 

In the Director’s Seats. 

 Season 2004-05. 

Players coming in were - Manuel Almunia - Matthieu Flamini - Robin Van Persie - Emmanuel Eboué - Justin Hoyte - Jonathan Djourou -Seb Larsson & Arturo Lupoli. 

League Cup. 

Arsenal beat Man City and Everton before losing 1-0 to Man Utd at Old Trafford in the 5th round. 

Champions League. 

Arsenal finished top in the group stage above, PSV - Panathinaikos & Rosenborg. 

In the first knockout round, Arsenal lost 3-1 in a snow swept 1st Leg, at Bayern Munich.  

 

Despite winning the 2nd Leg at Highbury 1-0, they went out. 

                                      League. 

Arsenal finished 2nd, behind the Billionaire backed, new look Chelsea, who won their first title since 1955. 

The time’s, they are a changing!!

We went to the Middlesbrough game at Highbury, where after being 3-1 down, Arsenal stormed back to eventually win 5-3. 

Jose Antonio Reyes celebrates scoring against Middlesbrough. 

Other highlights in the League were the 5-4 victory at the Lane. ( Highest ever score between us). 

Fielding a team without any British players at Crystal Palace. ( First time ever for an English Club). 

Beating Everton 7-0 at Highbury. 

Sadly, losing the unbeaten record after 49 games, in a highly controversial, 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford. 

 

                                        FA Cup. 

Arsenal beat Stoke - Wolves - Sheffield Utd - Bolton & Blackburn to reach another final in Cardiff. 

I managed to get 2 tickets for the Cup Final and Guy got to see Arsenal win the FA Cup, only a year after seeing the Invincibles win the League. 

He never had to wait 18 years, unlike my generation. 

The match was still 0-0 after extra time and after Paul Scholes missed his penalty for Man Utd, Captain Patrick Vieira, with his last ever kick for Arsenal, scored his penalty, to win the FA Cup Final. 

The funniest thing about the day was, Wayne Rooney being awarded Man of the Match, after Christiano Ronaldo had terrorised the Arsenal defence all game. 

When it was announced on the tannoy, Arsenal Fans, all around us, were in hysterics. 

FA Cup Final match ticket. 

3 Brothers are in. 

The boys are in. 

We’re going in. 

Young JC & Stanley are in. 

Gooners are also in. 

Patrick Vieira lifts the FA Cup. 

Arsenal’s last FA Cup Final at Cardiff. 

Many memories of happy days there. 

The players thank the Arsenal Fans. 

Jens Lehmann shows them the FA Cup. 

The Arsenal Fans thank the players. 

The Legendary Patrick Vieira - One of Arsenal’s greatest ever players. 

A Quick Learner!!

Probably the Best British Player I ever saw. 

Next Post - Wednesday 24/6/2020. 

Marvellous in Madrid. 

Comments/Questions - oldgunnersandgooners@gmail.com