The streets of Holloway, usually bustling with families and trolley-dragging shoppers, were uncharacteristically quiet on Saturday afternoon. But shortly after the clock struck 5pm, loud roars echoed through the north London high street, located a short walk away from the Emirates Stadium, as Arsenal walked onto the pitch for the Champions League final.
While the team, still basking in the glory of their Premier League win last week, were in Budapest for their final showdown against Paris Saint-Germain, Gunners came out to support the team on their home turf.
Home Turf Celebrations
The Argos sign on Holloway Road was fitted with a banner after the letter 'r' to form the word 'Arsenal', and pubs in the area were heaving with fans clad in red and white. The tense silence was broken mere minutes later when Kai Havertz scored a goal barely five minutes into the game.
Lucy, 37, and Gregory, 48, travelled from Paris to Holloway for the final, though they could not make it inside the Victoria Tavern pub, which was at full capacity. "The mood is amazing," said Lucy, a Gooner for 30 years. "We went to the Emirates and there were lots of people." She connected with the team due to its strong pedigree of French players, including Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira.
Gregory was not overly hopeful that Arsenal could achieve a double win. "PSG is a good team," he said. Regardless, they would be happy with the outcome. "I will be happy either way but more happy if we win the Champions League," added Lucy.
Fans from Afar
Issac, 42, was also waiting outside the pub, hoping to get inside. He travelled to Holloway from Ghana to celebrate with other Gunners on home turf. "It was the best thing ever," he said of Arsenal's Premier League win, the first time the team had taken the trophy in 22 years. Like Lucy and Gregory, he was already delighted with what Arsenal had achieved. "I'll be disappointed but we've got a Premier League win which is more important to me," he said.
Most pubs around the stadium were at full capacity, and a short bus ride away in Angel Islington, Gooner fever was also in full swing. "Honestly, I'm a mix of nervous and excited," said 25-year-old Jack Devonport about the final, who had travelled to celebrate with fellow Gunners. He has been a lifelong fan: "I've seen everything. I was alive for the last Champions League final but I don't remember it. I've seen us losing to Birmingham in the cup finals. I've seen the 6-0 on the Chelsea game. I've seen all the negatives and finally it feels like we're at the pinnacle."
Relief and Reflection
When Arsenal were declared Premier League victors for the first time in 22 years, Devonport felt "relief more than anything." He said: "The one thing I've learned about football is that it isn't always fair. Sometimes you can be the best team with the best squad but luck doesn't always go your way. You don't always get what you deserve in football but to finally get over the line is everything to me."
Arsenal's smashing performance this season meant more than personal satisfaction. "The last time we won the league I was five years old, so to be able to watch every game this season with my dad has been massive," Devonport said. "To watch all the games together, to relive what he had when he was younger with his son is amazing. It's something we'll never forget."
Match Outcome
The evening began well for Arsenal with Kai Havertz firing them into a sixth-minute lead. However, PSG equalised via an Ousmane Dembélé penalty in the second half, forcing extra time and a penalty shootout. Heartbreak followed for the red half of north London as Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Magalhães missed their spot-kicks, allowing the French side to win 4-3 in the shootout and retain their Champions League crown.
