THE FRENCH CONNECTION

BY JAMIE DALTON

Valentine's Day 1989 – the date of my first game at Highbury and looking back on it, it really was a case of "love at first sight.”

I was just six-years-old as I made my way up the stairs to the old Family Enclosure for what was an unusual mid-season friendly match between Arsenal and France.

Managed by the legendary Michel Platini, Les Bleus also included established stars such as goalkeeper Joel Bats and Manuel Amoros and had a young Eric Cantona on the bench. However, despite the quality continental opponents, the Gunners won 2-0.

As well as the result, three other things stuck in my mind:

1) A terrible cliché when you go to your first game - but the pitch was "that big" and "that green" - I had never seen anything like it and even to this day when I step out at The Emirates, the gasp of seeing the green baize still amazes me.

2) The stench of the river of urine running out the toilets. I can still smell it to this day.

3) Alan Smith cracking the bar from 30 yards out with a half-volley. But instead of looking fussed, he just shrugged his shoulders and jogged away without any theatrics. These days it’s all on-camera volleys of abuse!

After that I was hooked - and nearly 23 years later, and several thousands of pounds lighter, I don't regret a moment.