I have been attending football matches since I was 7. I've seen games won, drawn and lost, witnessed comebacks of epic proportions and seen true geniuses at work. All matches have something different. That is, except, for one thing in particular. I don't know if (and I sincerely hope not), that this is solely a problem concerning Arsenal, but one recurring annoyance that exists in every game has just happened one time too often for my liking.
As the fans, we have one job; to support the team and become the 12th man on that pitch. We may not be the loudest group in the country, but when we get going we're as passionate as anyone else. I do think we should be cut a little bit of slack due to the other recurring problem of a lack of trophies - though neither of these help each other.
However, it continues, and will go on baffling me for as long as it is prominent, that for no good reason - emphasis on the good - fans leave their seats far too early.
Especially at the gargantuan prices Arsenal charge for our entertaining, if not notably consistent performances at home nowadays, it makes the fans' priority for a 'quick ride home' over rallying the side on in the latter stages all the more bewildering.
Getting home within an efficient timeframe for Gooners seems to be the main reason for these constant showings of absurdity and downright hypocrisy - everyone complains about the ticket prices (which are abysmal) and then goes home early! The game could be won, it could be lost, it could be too close to call, but catching the first train seems to be the main cause for concern for many as we near the final whistle.
At Arsenal, we are privileged to have fantastic public transport links to the stadium. It is barely a minute's walk from Arsenal station to the bridges leading up to that theatre of shattered hopes and dreams entertainment we call home. Yes, there are long queues to get out, but there are 60,000 people in that stadium (reportedly). Would you rather risk being crushed to death every week instead? And there's always one nutter doing something remotely amusing to pass the time.
The worst thing is, it probably hits the ones that want to stay the hardest. There's nothing more frustrating than urging the team on when someone in the row in front gives up and it proceeds to rise and obscure your view. And of course, it must be hard to create any sort of late atmosphere when there aren't many bodies around you.
The worst example of early exits from fans that I have seen was at the West Ham game last season. We went behind early on but got back level before half-time (with a glorious Poldi rocket) and went on to score four times in 10 brilliant minutes. It looked like we could get into double figures. Alas, we did not, and the game did slow down a fair bit. Unfortunately, a horrible neck injury to Dan Potts left him lying on the pitch for a while and the noise died down (apart from the Hammers' "5-1, and you still don't sing, 5-1...) tune, which was fair enough.
After Potts had eventually been carried off, we had gone past 90 minutes and the board went up signalling an extra 12. Cue half the stadium getting off their seats. It was astonishing. We had all sat there, through a poor lad getting treatment for what seemed like ages, but no-one wanted to see 12 more minutes of football. I could not believe my eyes.
I honestly feel that once you're in, you should not be allowed out. It may be a nice day out for some, but at the end of the day, supporters are there to give the team the home advantage they require. Will we change our ways? I don't think so. Even a glut of trophies wouldn't change our attitudes. But one fan can dream...
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