Arsenal 5 Bolton Wanderers 1
League Cup 3rd round
Wednesday 24 September 2024
cannon canon
The context
Somehow neither John nor myself had visited this ground before. Every time it seemed we might – which wasn’t often – tickets proved impossible to obtain. But finally the Holy Grail beckoned; a midweek Cup fixture, unattractive opposition, our own teams already knocked out and limited appeal for home fans with (for once) serious title-winning ambitions.
The history
gun culture
Controversies define Arsenal’s early years. First is the decision, in 1913, to relocate from one side of London to another. Woolwich Arsenal had existed more or less anonymously since becoming League members ten years before, playing mostly at the Manor Ground just north of present-day Nathan Way. Falling gates – not helped by financial hardship amongst their munition-worker support base – hastened a rather cynical cross-river move.
genteel
Genteel Highbury had expanded during Victorian times. High-density housing spread across open fields; only the protected space of Finsbury Park halted this relentless march, which promptly headed west towards Holloway Road instead. Arsenal successfully tapped into a working class population eager to watch football every other Saturday. Crowds doubled overnight, and by 1932 the average gate exceeded 40,000.
substantial
Kings Cross was just three miles distant. A substantial engine shed – with adjacent freight sidings – had been built near Belle Isle, where the Great Northern line looped around to pass beneath Regent’s Canal. This provided stabling for dozens of locomotives. Tightly-packed lines filled the area between Regent’s Canal and York Way, while passenger services travelled through tunnels beneath. Many railway workers began supporting their new local team.
Goods Way (Flashbak.com)
Top Shed and goods yard closed in 1963 after years of decline. Nyloned-up prostitutes wearing second-hand Soho heels no longer haunt Goods Way, and the whole vast site has now been redeveloped. British Rail built a new depot just south of Finsbury Park station; this remained operational for barely two decades, but was much loved by railway enthusiasts because of its resident fleet of Deltic diesels.
Bank manager
Arsenal became members of Division 1 after the Great War. No-one knew exactly why or how – a sixth-place finish in 1915 hardly merited promotion – but well-connected chairman, Sir Henry Norris, was widely presumed to have exerted his considerable influence. They soon became known as “the Bank of England club” and amassed sufficient wealth to make Herbert Chapman Britain’s best-paid manager.
1922
Chapman had been banned from football when Leeds City were found guilty of illegally paying players. He successfully appealed this decision and took over at Huddersfield, leading them to a 1922 FA Cup win along with First Division titles in 1924 and 1925. His teams introduced counter-attacking football to Britain, playing fast balls out of defence to fast wingers who could deliver accurate passes across the penalty area.
greatest (Tooveys.com)
Nine eventful years cemented Arsenal’s lasting legacy. In addition to tactical brilliance – captain Charlie Buchan quickly understood the opportunity presented by offside law changes, and devised a 3-4-3 formation perfect for scoring breakaway goals – Chapman wasn’t above deploying occasional sharp practice or backhanders. These strategies worked; his greatest side successfully emulated Huddersfield, winning both the 1930 FA Cup and successive championships.
showman
Three more Leagues and another FA Cup were secured before World War II broke out. When Chapman died prematurely in 1934 he left behind a blueprint for the modern manager, fully controlling club matters without boardroom influence. His successor George Allison went one step further; while coaches Joe Shaw and Tom Whittaker ran team affairs, showman Allison effectively became director of football.
new-build (arsenal.com)
Highbury was also redesigned. It originally resembled many other Archibald Leitch new-builds, one substantial stand with extensive banked terraces; this trusted – if unadventurous – formula ensured London’s biggest capacity. But growing prestige demanded facilities to match, and Chapman’s relentless drive initiated sweeping changes that began with a magnificent new West Stand.
bold
Engineers had traditionally built football grounds. Arsenal innovated by securing the services of acclaimed architect, Claude Waterlow Ferrier; his bold design, producing two near-identical stands, combined Thirties elegance and neat functionality. The West – hemmed in by houses – could only really be seen from inside Highbury, but its counterpart on Avenell Road featured an imposing Art Deco facade with lavish marble interiors.
classic
There seemed no end to Chapman’s creativity. He introduced a controversial forty-five minute clock, numbers on shirts, experimental floodlighting and even had London Underground rebadge Gillespie Road station as Arsenal (Highbury Hill). This quietly suburban stop featured attractive red-brick Leslie Green detailing; it was nevertheless demolished so that more supporters could be accommodated on matchdays.
cameo
The last official game before World War II took place on 6 May 1939. This provided footage for Thorold Dickinson’s matchday poisoning whodunnit, The Arsenal Stadium Mystery. Leslie Banks starred as Detective-Inspector Anthony Slade; George Allison had a small speaking part, while various players – notably Eddie Hapgood and Cliff Bastin – also made cameo appearances. Visitors Brentford represented fictitious amateur opponents The Trojans.
Whittaker’s world
Arsenal’s longest barren spell spanned eighteen post-War seasons. They won no trophies between 1953, when Whittaker delivered their record-breaking seventh Championship, and 1970. Club physio turned manager Bertie Mee ended this run when his disciplined, resilient side won the Fairs Cup (beating Anderlecht) before unexpectedly achieving a first-ever League and Cup double in 1970-71.
Good old Arsenal
This achievement capped six years’ steady progress. Mee had revitalised Arsenal, successfully partnering military-grade administrative skills with coach Don Howe’s more modern methods. Experienced signings – Bob Wilson, Bob McNab, George Graham, George Armstrong, Frank McLintock – perfectly complemented the homegrown talent of Ray Kennedy, Charlie George, Pat Rice, Peter Simpson, John Radford and Eddie Kelly.
defining
George’s famously prone celebration of his extra-time Cup Final winner against Liverpool became a defining 1970s moment. For me it satirises the supposed weariness of footballers who played way above their individual talents, went 21 games unbeaten at home and battled Leeds for every point. Mee taught his teams to thrive on adversity; of all Arsenal’s many triumphs this still feels the most significant.
The journey
fear and loathing
We certainly didn’t want any hold ups today. Light southbound traffic saw us reach our rented parking space near Tollington Park by mid-afternoon; making it back home afterwards would have been awkward, so I booked into the Premier Inn at Cannock. Clear skies and open roads – apart from one niggly small-hours diversion around Warwick – got me there just after two am.
The ground
North point (Stuart MacFarlane)
Highbury changed little for fifty years. One goal-end terrace – accessed between houses on Gillespie Road, where Stadium Mews is now – had been extended when the West Stand replaced Leitch’s original Spion Kop. German incendiary bombs destroyed its original roof during April 1941, also damaging Mayfield’s adjacent laundry. During the ground’s early years this would regularly engulf nearby spectators in clouds of steam.
boxes
Chapman’s clock occupied a gantry opposite. This banking therefore became known as the Clock End. It never lost Leitch’s original 1913 profile, although some incongruous corporate boxes eventually provided partial – if incidental – cover for fans standing underneath. Because access was only possible from Avenell Road Hghbury enforced strict segregation much later than many other grounds.
seated (houseandhistory.com)
62,000 people had seen Chelsea’s visit during the Double season. But capacity fell alarmingly post-Taylor; even with a smart new double-decker North Bank, only 38,000 seats were available. Demand for tickets increased still further when Arsenal won two Premier League and FA Cup doubles, so – with expansion of Highbury proving impractical – the club began to consider alternative sites;
beautiful (Jason Hawkes)
Ashburton Grove waste recycling centre seemed most suitable. Dustcarts once deposited Islington’s rubbish here, before “Stink Trains” took it to be dumped at Welwyn Garden City. Arsenal had to fund 2300 homes, provide another waste facility and construct two vast bridges across the Moorgate-Finsbury Park commuter line. Their imposing new ground was described by designer Architect Christopher Lee as “beautiful and intimidating.”
handsome
Expensive flats have been built into and around Highbury’s two listed stands. As a consequence it remains very much unspoiled; that handsome Art Deco frontage still adorns Avenell Road, while the equally ornate West Stand hides as ever behind Victorian villas on Highbury Hill. Gillespie Road station oozes village vibes despite serving thousands of fans before and after every home game
dignity
The Emirates Stadium’s impressive capacity is still much less than Highbury at its peak. But – despite surprisingly similar dimensions – everything seems far more spacious. Uncluttered surroundings help create this illusion, as does an elevated situation between two converging railway lines. The old clock has been preserved high above one smoked-glass frontage; while self-consciously 1930s-style branding adds quiet dignity not often found at modern stadia.
times
John and I mooched thoughtfully around both grounds as sudden rain cleared the streets. Many people have – quite reasonably – contrasted Highbury’s elegant period charm with its unashamedly consumerist replacement. But football simply reflects its societal context. If fans today enjoy souvenir shopping more than shouting, will happily pay small fortunes for tickets and don’t mind being used as polyester sandwich boards then who are we to argue?
Flesh and wine
Eaglet it be
We wasted no time settling into the Eaglet on Seven Sisters Road. This traditional street corner boozer – which dates from Victorian times – was bombed by Zeppelins during World War I. With John as designated driver our early arrival left me happily off the leash; things got even better when I spotted a samosa stand across the street, and my simple heart overflowed to discover that our landlord didn’t mind people bringing in takeaway food.
gravy vote
This long pre-match session made Arsenal’s uniformly bland concourse facilities feel tolerable enough. No decent ale, of course, but they did sell small bottles of wine; the helpful attendant decanted three of these into a pint glass to help me save face. Pie and mash – with very Northern gravy – was also on offer. In my fuddled state this felt pretty appropriate, although it unsurprisingly turned out quite unlike anything Harry Tate would have recognised. By that point I was past caring.
The game
Arteta
Mikel Arteta had decided to try out some young players. Bolton therefore resembled a herd of cattle being plagued by wasps. Every Arsenal goal capitalised on hesitant defending; this was certainly true of their opener from Declan Rice, who slipped two markers and swept in Josh Nichol’s square pass. Teenage debutant Ethan Nwaneri added another just before half time when he slid onto a probing Raheem Sterling centre.
solid
Nwaneri’s decisive second punished Chris Forino for his lazy crossfield ball straight at Nichols. Bolton belatedly woke up; a solo goal from Aaron Collins, finished expertly after rounding sixteen year-old ‘keeper Jack Porter, would be the night’s best moment. But Arsenal remained solid and Sterling soon pounced again following some byline trickery from Bukayo Saka, with Kai Havertz – who was quickest to react when Luke Southwood spilled yet another Arsenal shot – volleying acrobatically home.
Teams and goals
Arsenal: Porter, Lewis-Skelly (Magalhaes 62), Calafiori (Kacurri 70), Kiwior, Nichols, Rice, Jorginho, Nwaneri, Sterling (Kabia 81), Jesus, Saka (Martinelli 71). Unused subs: Heaven, Fedorushchenko, Saliba, Partey.
Bolton: Southwood, Toal, Ricardo, Forino (Johnston 71), Williams, Dempsey (Matete 69), Sheehan, Arfield (Thomason 69), Dacres-Cogley, Collins (Charles 79), McAtee (Adeboyejo 78). Unused subs: Baxter, Inwood, Matheson, Schon.
Goals: Arsenal: Rice 16, Nwaneri 37, 49, Sterling 64, Havertz 77. Bolton: Collins 53.
Attendance: 59,056.
