Arsenal Women’s vs Chelsea Women’s

Matchday 24 stood out as the pinnacle among the 92 stadiums—an unforgettable visit to The Emirates Stadium in London. The anticipation for this game soared when, 24 hours before, Arsenal announced on social media that an astounding 58,000 tickets had already been sold for a women’s football match—an unprecedented occurrence.

What made this matchday even more special was the presence of Amanda (wife/mum), who joined us to witness her first match as part of the 92, sharing in our excitement.

The day commenced with a drive to Birmingham, followed by a hearty breakfast at Tim Hortons before catching the first Chiltern Railways service to London Marylebone. The two-hour journey proved busy, especially leaving Birmingham, but we secured seats around a table in the furthest coach. In London, two tube rides—Bakerloo line to Oxford Circus and Victoria line to Highbury & Islington—spanned approximately 20 minutes. The efficient tube system was user-friendly, and Liam traveled for free.

Exiting the tube, the direction to the stadium was evident—follow the crowd of enthusiastic fans. The sound of singing and chanting fans created a thrilling atmosphere. A scarf vendor initially quoted a steep £20, but a quick departure prompted a swift reduction to £15. After acquiring our matchday program for £3, we underwent a bag check at the security point.

Following the security check, we strolled around the outside, admiring the stadium’s grandeur. Heading inside, another security bag check included attaching a security tag to each bag. Slightly confused about our location, we consulted a steward who allowed us to take photos at pitch level and directed us to the stairs leading to our block.

The seating arrangement presented a hiccup—I initially booked two seats but later sought a third, leading to a suboptimal allocation. The third seat, supposedly directly behind Liam, had a restricted view and was three seats away. Fortunately, a generous individual, part of a larger party, observed my challenge and invited me to sit next to Amanda, enhancing the view significantly.

The atmosphere during the game was electric, matching the quality of play. Liam was thrilled to witness his favorite women’s player, Sam Kerr, in action. Arsenal, as they had in our previous two encounters, delivered an impressive performance, defeating Chelsea, the reigning WSL (Women’s Super League) champions, 4-1. The official record-breaking attendance exceeded 59,000, setting a new record for WSL games.

Considering the colossal attendance and the time-consuming stair climb, we opted to leave about 5 minutes early. This decision allowed us to catch a pre-waiting tube and comfortably make the 15:00 train back to Birmingham. Surprisingly, the train was relatively quiet, a welcome contrast to the morning’s busyness.

The journey home was smooth without any issues or drama. Undoubtedly, this was the most exceptional game since starting the 92, coupled with the distinction of being the best stadium we’ve visited. Despite the minor inconvenience with the third seat, all three of us had a fantastic day and thoroughly enjoyed the occasion.