Arsenal 5 Bolton Wanderers 1
League Cup 3rd round
Wednesday 24 September 2024
cannon canon
The context
Somehow neither John nor myself had ever visited this ground before. Every time opportunity knocked – which wasn’t often – tickets proved impossible to obtain. But finally we reached the Holy Grail; a midweek Cup fixture against lowly opposition, our own teams already knocked out and no real interest from home fans with (for once) serious title-winning ambitions.
The history
Controversy defines 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 previously, 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 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 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 their average gate exceeded 40,000.
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 the new local team
The yard closed in 1963 after years of decline. Nyloned-up prostitutes wearing second-hand Soho heels no longer haunt Goods Way; this whole vast site has now been redeveloped. British Raiil built a new depot just south of Finsbury Park station. It would be operational for barely two decades, during which railway enthusiasts flocked there to see the resident fleet of Deltic class diesels.
Finsbury Park’s bland modern transport hub arouses no such passions. London Transport demolished the original station façade just before World War II; projected improvements would have extended underground services to Alexandra Palace, but this scheme was never completed. Miles of disused trackbed eventually became London’s largest (and thinnest) nature reserve; half an abandoned island platform survives above Wells Terrace.
Arsenal became members of Division 1 in 1919. No-one knew exactly why or how, given that both Burnley and Wolves – neither of whom were promoted – had finished above them in the last pre-War season. But they soon became known as “the Bank of England club” and amassed sufficient wealth to make Herbert Chapman Britain’s best-paid manager.
Chapman had been banned from football after Leeds City were found guilty of making illegal payments to players. He successfully appealed this decision and took over at Huddersfield, leading them to the 1922 FA Cup along with First Division titles in 1924 and 1925. His teams introduced counter-attacking football to Britain, playing out of defence to fast wingers who could deliver accurate passes across the penalty area.
Nine eventful years cemented Arsenal’s lasting legacy. In addition to tactical brilliance – captain Charlie Buchan quickly understood the potential opportunity that offside law changes presented, and led a 3-4-3 formation perfect for scoring goals on the break – Chapman wasn’t above sharp practice during transfer dealings or paying occasional backhanders. These strategies worked; his last great side successfully emulated Huddersfield, winning the 1930 FA Cup and successive League titles.
Three more championships and another FA Cup followed before World War II broke out. When Chapman died prematurely in 1934 he had role-modelled the modern manager, fully controlling club matters without boardroom influence. His successor George Allison went one step further; coaches Joe Shaw and Tom Whittaker took responsibility for team affairs while Allison effectively became director of football.
Highbury was also redesigned. It originally typified Archibald Leitch new-builds, with one substantial stand and extensive banked terraces. This trusted – if unadventurous – formula ensured London’s biggest capacity. But prestige demanded facilities to match. Chapman’s relentless drive initiated a spectacular transformation that began with the magnificent new West Stand.
Football grounds had been traditionally built by engineers. Arsenal once more innovated by securing the services of acclaimed architect, Claude Waterlow Ferrier. His bold design – producing two near-identical stands four years apart – combined Thirties elegance with neat functionality. The West, hemmed in by houses, could only really be seen from inside Highbury; its counterpart opposite featured lavish marble interiors and an imposing Art Deco facade.
There seemed no end to Chapman’s creativity. His controversial forty-five minute clock stood above the North Bank until that end was roofed during 1935; most notably – so popular legend has it, anyway – he had London Underground rebadge Gillespie Road station as Arsenal (Highbury Hill). This quietly suburban stop featured a classic red-brick Leslie Green entrance and booking hall; both now were demolished so that more people could use the station on matchdays.
The last official match 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 Eddie Hapgood and Cliff Bastin also made cameo appearances. Visitors Brentford were cast as fictitious amateur opponents, The Trojans.
Frequent honours have usually come Arsenal’s way. Their longest barren period spanned eighteen post-War seasons, between 1953 – when Whittaker delivered a record-breaking seventh Championship – and 1970. It was ended by club physio turned manager Bertie Mee. His disciplined, resilient side won the Fairs Cup (beating Anderlecht over two legs) before achieving their first-ever League and Cup double twelve months later.
The journey
We certainly didn’t want any hold ups today. Light southbound traffic saw us reach our rented parking space near Crouch Hill tube 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
handsome
You get two for one now. Highbury – just a few hundred yards away – remains very much unspoiled. That handsome Art Deco frontage still proudly adorns Avenell Road; the similarly redeveloped West Stand hides as ever behind Victorian villas on Highbury Hill. Gillespie Road station, meanwhile, manages somehow to exude homely suburban vibes despite accommodating thousands of fans every matchday.
dignity
The new ground’s capacity is much less than Highbury’s 73,000 record attendance. Despite its similar footprint everything seems far more spacious. Uncluttered surroundings help create this illusion, as does an elevated situation between two converging railway lines. Chapman’s controversial clock has been preserved high above one smoked-glass frontage, while self-consciously 1930s-style branding adds (mostlly) quiet dignity not often found at modern stadia.
times
John and I mooched thoughtfully around both as sudden rain cleared the streets. Many people have – quite reasonably – contrasted Highbury’s elegant period charm with its unashamedly consumerist replacement. But football grounds simply reflect their times. If fans today enjoy souvenir shopping more than shouting, will happily pay small fortunes for tickets and insist on becoming walking adverts for breathable fabric, then who are we to argue?
Flesh and wine
Eaglet it be
We wasted no time settling in at 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.
