When the London phone rings, you perk up and listen.  
Writing about travel, poetry, or other topics is a joy in itself, but sharing the childhood dream of my brother, a brother I watched grow, dream, and finally achieve is something infinitely precious.  Today, it’s not my pen recounting these events. It’s my brother’s, usually reserved, but who honored me by sharing a few words about a defining adventure. Enough from me; I’ll step aside and let him speak. 

A Dream from a May Evening in 2006..Finally Fulfilled  

I’m sitting on the couch in front of the TV with my father and my little brother, who’s already dozing off because he’s used to going to bed early. We’re watching a match being played at the Stade de France, in a country that, ten years later, would become my new home. It’s here, in this country close to my heart, that fate placed the Champions League final between Arsenal and Barcelona. I was nine years old.  

Arsenal was my first love. A club like no other, a team I adored without even knowing why. I loved them despite the years without a league title, despite the disappointments in the Champions League. The mere presence of Thierry Henry and Arsène Wenger on the bench was enough to reassure me. As a child, it felt obvious that a man named Arsène should be at the helm of Arsenal. It seemed like a sign. How could I not love this team that had just accomplished the feat of going an entire league season unbeaten, while outclassing all the Spanish teams including Zidane’s Real Madrid in the Champions League? Back then, in my young mind, I thought Barcelona would be the cherry on an already perfect cake. The match kicked off at 8:45 PM, and I felt invincible, just as the team had been a few months earlier.  

Today, I’m about to fulfill a childhood dream: discovering the Emirates Stadium. Since arriving in Paris, everything seems to have led me to this moment. And to make it perfect, I booked a night in accommodation next to Highbury, the old stadium, to honor every symbol linked to my beloved club. Moreover, this dream takes an even more special turn as I will attend a Champions League match in this football temple. The combination of the Champions League atmosphere and the Emirates Stadium is an experience every Arsenal supporter must live at least once in their life.  

The idea of making this dream come true was born thanks to my sister, who, though not a football fan, advised me to treat myself to this gift to mark 2025 with an unforgettable moment. Her husband then helped me find the necessary tools to make it happen, including a reliable site to buy tickets, as they’re often sold very early in the year to regular season ticket holders.  

With my ticket in hand, I decided to make this experience even more memorable by joining a matchday tour . It was a true immersion into the world of Arsenal: I sat on the bench where Mikel Arteta, Unai Emery, and of course Arsène Wenger once sat. That moment allowed me to grasp the immense responsibility these men carried. Since then, my respect for Wenger and his successors has only grown.  

However, the wait until the big day was filled with doubts. Arsenal was stringing together defeats and losing players to injury. At one point, the idea of reselling my ticket crossed my mind. But the Gunners’ motto, “Whether we win, lose or draw, we are still Gunners,” reminded me why I was here.  

On January 22, 2025, the big day arrived. Despite the usual SNCF hiccups (my train was 30 minutes late), everything went smoothly. With tight timing, I still managed to catch my Eurostar just in time. Once I arrived in London, under a typically overcast sky, the matchday atmosphere immediately enveloped me.  

My accommodation, located near the old Highbury stadium, was perfectly placed just a 15-minute walk from the Emirates Stadium. The neighborhood breathes the club’s history, and everything seems dedicated to Arsenal the only great team in North London.  

The matchday tour was an unforgettable first step. I even met other French fans who had come to experience this unique moment. After sharing a drink in a supporters’ bar, I headed toward the stands two hours before kickoff.  
The atmosphere in the stadium was electrifying: the chants of the fans, the lights of the light show, and finally, the Champions League anthem gave the evening a magical dimension. I was seated near the Northbank Turnstile F, in block 11, row 19 a perfect spot to enjoy the spectacle.  

The Arsenal vs. Dynamo Zagreb match was one-sided. I had the chance to witness two of the three goals scored: Declan Rice’s superb strike, followed by goals from Kai Havertz and Martin Ødegaard. Each goal triggered an explosion of joy in the stadium, and I felt connected to thousands of fans sharing the same passion.  
As I left the stadium, my heart was full of emotions and unforgettable memories. That evening reminded me why I fell in love with Arsenal. Enthusiastic and happy, I knew this moment would remain etched in my memory a dream finally realized.  

Written by Yvon Bruno Bizimana