Best Game I've Ever Seen Live! #1

This is a new feature on DMF's Football World, where I will try and get as many guest writers in to write about their best experiences at a football match. It could be non-league to a European final, as it's all a personal opinion.

Our first guest is Joss Bennett. He currently writes for Arsenal Report, an excellent website dedicated to all things Arsenal, as well as having many opinions on multiple things via his personal Twitter account - @JossBennett.

So without further ado, here is Joss Bennett's "Best Game I've Ever Seen Live!".

Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea:  December 27^th 2010

Last season (the one just gone by) I had fairly regular access to season tickets at The Emirates, so the experience of walking up Holloway Road with my dad, walking into the Media Office, collecting the tickets, and taking my seat quickly lost its specialness (it’s a word, I checked).

But playing Chelsea – or at least, a member of the infamous ‘Big Four’ – is always a special occasion. The closest to a rival game I’d had before this was a boring 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur, as well as the 2-2 draw at home to Barcelona (a game I considered when writing this article, but spurned in favour of Chelsea) so this game was a welcome change.

Of course, we hadn’t beaten Chelsea since Robin van Persie’s second half brace at Stamford Bridge in 2008, so nerves were expected – particularly after the 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford on Boxing Day. But, as ever with the amazingly inconsistent Emirates crowd, the fans created an incredible atmosphere which the players thrived in and Arsenal’s first half performance soon quelled any nerves.

Van Persie, back from injury, undoubtedly had the best chance of the first half for Arsenal. After a nervy start by both sides, Alex Song clipped the ball to the far post from an advanced midfield position, but the Dutchman volleyed the air, rather than the ball, into the roof of the net.

Then the breakthrough. And what a break-through. We certainly deserved to be going into half-time with a lead, but it was so satisfying to do it the ‘Arsenal way’. Passing the ball in neat, tippy-tappy square movements until someone is 10 yards out and only has to beat the ‘keeper – which Alex Song did emphatically.

Naturally, the 60,000-strong crowd went wild and shrugged off the cold to jump out of their seats. And with the fans in good voice – refueled by coffee and half-time pizza slices – the team continued their forward momentum and completed what is undoubtedly the best Arsenal display I’ve ever seen live.

Theo Walcott’s pace was too much for boo-boy Ashley Cole and he broke through twice. First Walcott broke through down the right hand side and set up Fabregas (also just back from injury) with a “simple ‘X’” as if playing FIFA to make it 2-0, and then the much maligned winger got on the score-sheet himself to finish Chelsea.

But of course, being Arsenal, we had to concede a goal from a set-piece – just to keep our record intact. Even after Ivanovic’s header, though, Arsenal ran the show. And that was the best thing about that game, and about being there. Once we scored the second, everyone knew the end result would be in our favour. It would be too cruel of the (non-existent) Gods to deny us that.

An electric atmosphere to go with a terrific team performance means that this late Christmas present is the best match – or at least, my favourite – that I’ve ever been to. Others such as the 2-2 draw with Barcelona, my first away game (At Old Trafford, 4 days before the Chelsea game) also deserve a mention but both are some way behind my eventual winner.

Theo Walcott and Cesc Fabregas celebrate the win against Chelsea last December.