Size does matter at our new home

PRE-OCCUPIED with war, cricket and athletics, I was asked for some Premiership predictions the other day. It suddenly dawned on me that I didn’t have a ‘scooby’ about any of the summer dealings.

Perhaps it’s a subconscious soccer safety valve to guard against overkill, as from the moment I tuned into Sunday’s Charity Shield, I was transfixed. It didn’t matter that this wasn’t the Arsenal; my eyes were glued to the screen like a greedy addict who’d been starved of his footballing fix.

It has been a strange summer for Gooner supporters. For us fans, it’s going to take some time and the acquisition of some history and a few good memories, before our new Emirates Stadium begins to feel like home. The only similarity with Highbury is the snooker baize-like turf at the new stadium’s heart. It remains to be seen whether this beats with the same regularity, without the palpitations of new stadium-itis that’s afflicted other sides subsequent to a move.