Good Memories of Last Year's European Tour

With Arsenal looking to overcome a one nil deficit from the Philips Stadion against a side who let set to park another bus in front of goal, I feel the Gunners need to recreate the spirit from last season's Champions League campaign and get a result when everything seems against them. Injuries are mounting up, points have been dropped in games that should surely have been won and it looks like our only chance of glory.

So has this team progressed if there's no change from last year?

Well, yes there have, as this young and talented side are not stepping into the unknown this time around. They've seen it all before and they know what to expect. Yes, things are conspiring against them but hopefully this will galvanise the team and triumphing over adveristy will only make them better.

I thought I'd share some memories from the incredible Champions League run from last year to get everyone in a positive frame of mind for Wednesday.



We flew in to Madrid Barajas Airport and got the Metro to the hotel which was just around the corner from the Vicente Calderon Stadium, home of local rivals Atletico Madrid.

We then headed into the city, towards the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, with a view to going on the stadium tour.

















It only cost 4 euros and it was well worth it. We got to see the view from the top of the stadium, the Presidential Box, the players' tunnel, the benches, the coaches' area and we took pictures at pitchside.

The only thing we couldn't see were the dressing rooms, which were closed because of the match the next day.



Next we went through the Real Madrid museum and it was awe inspiring to see the 9 European trophies (3 Champions League Trophies) on display.

Then we went crazy buying souvenirs at the “Area Realmadrid” the official club shop.



Whilst on the tour of the stadium we tried to work out where we'd be sat and we joked that it would be row Z in the upper tier.

We were right and sat in the top row in the top tier and it was absolutely freezing up there.

The designated away fans section was the upper tier in the opposite corner of the stadium to us.



Before the match a friend had called from home and asked what I was hoping for in the game. I'd answered by saying that I just wanted the Gunners to make me proud.

And I can tell you that the singing of 'one-nil to the Arsenal' was as loud as I'd ever sung it.

















At first all the Arsenal fans in the home section kept themselves to themselves, but it soon became apparent that our section was full of away fans.

We had some friendly banter with some of the home fans and at the final whistle they shook our hands and congratulated us on an impressive victory.

Come on you Gunners, give us another vintage display we can talk about for years to come.