As any other Arsenal fan from abroad, visiting London and watching Arsenal play was on the top of my bucket list.

During my teenage and student years, this was all only a dream and something that made me study and focus on work more, so I could afford it when I grew up. I couldn’t imagine asking my parents to pay for a trip like that, so it had to wait until I had a proper job and I could save up for it.

The dream came true in May 2017, 11 years after I started following Arsenal in Croatia.

Grab a cup of coffee, this will be a long post…

It was some time in November 2016 when it was announced that low-budget airline Monarch would start flying directly from Zagreb to London in April 2017. Zagreb, as the main airport in Croatia, didn’t have many low-budget flights (if any even, I’m not sure), so this was massive news for yours truly. The return flights to London from Zagreb were way out of our (boyfriend’s and mine) price range even when we got good jobs, so naturally my heart started beating faster as soon as I saw we can actually afford a trip like that without starving.

In early December, we pressed that final button after days of discussing it. Two return flights to London were booked for first weekend of May – to see the match between Arsenal and Manchester United.

Another match wasn’t really an option since, as you probably know, my boyfriend is a United fan and I wouldn’t like to go without him on such a big adventure. Six sweet months of expectation began.

In those months, we experienced something that was a leitmotif of the whole trip, and that’s the kindness of our friends and the people we met. We got so many great tips from our friends both online and “offline”. Nikola’s childhood friend, Marija, was renting an Air BnB in London so she helped us out with a discount and a warm place to stay in a strange town amongside a familiar face.

Croatian football fans I met on Twitter helped us out with two tickets in the Clock End, front row. They sorted it all out, we just had to pick them up and get in. We couldn’t have be more grateful and will probably never be able to pay that off. Thank you Julian, Dinko and Ivan, and their English friends Gary and Daniel 🙂

The weeks were going slowly and, despite all the bad things happening with Arsenal, I was still very excited and couldn’t wait to finally see London and my Arsenal. The last week of April was especially hard to survive, as it all was so close but I had to focus on work and packing and planning!

Friday, May 5th

From the moment we woke up, it was all about London.

Our flight was leaving the newly remodelled Zagreb airport on Friday evening, so we decided to pack our small carry-on bag that day. My dad agreed to drop us off (the airport is an hour away from where we live) and we left at noon – which turned out to be way too early but I’m a worrier and rather be early than late!

In Zagreb, we met up with Ivan who gave us the tickets for the stadium, which meant we are all set to go. Nerves started kicking in as it was our first ever flight and we had no idea what to expect – from the whole airport procedure to the flight itself.

The new Zagreb airport is simply stunning and it was a great start of our trip. We wish there was more to see and do inside it but it was my fault we came too early! The check-in went great, and we were on the plane ahead of schedule.

Then came the real excitement and nervousness because of the lift off and flight.

We had no idea how it would feel or what to expect, and it was surreal.

I’m sure many of you fly a few times a year so you are more or less used to it but it was something really different for us, and I can’t really describe it. That feeling of being clinched to your seat, your blood leaving your head, and that first thought of “HOLY CRAP there’s really nothing beneath us!”.

Crazy, I know, but it was amazing.

The flight went so well. Both of us were worried about turbulence but we didn’t experience any – at least not more than when you’re driving down a damaged road in any city. Since the flight took off ahead of schedule, we were in London too early and the plane had to circle around and then make the landing when appropriate. That landing was slightly more scary, as the plane had to drop low pretty fast, but hey, that was the scariest part of whole trip!

As I mentioned before, I was a bit worried how we would manage the whole airport thing and big city, but it turns out I was worried for nothing (shocker!). As soon as we landed, everyone was so nice and kind to us and helped whenever we asked anything. It all started with passport control where the lovely man thought I was younger and didn’t believe my age! Bless him.

We kept riding our luck with time and managed to grab the earlier bus from Gatwick to London. I was sitting all the way at the back while Nikola was right next to driver so his experience with bumpy English roads was much better than mine!

Anyway, we got to London an hour early, to West Brompton Station, where we bought our first ever tube tickets and jumped on the District line to Paddington where we grabbed Bakerloo to our station – Baker Street. The Air BnB place was just near by, and, since we came an hour early, our host was still away (working late) so we went to grab some dinner in the nearby Co-Op.

This all reads to me like we’ve been in London for ages but it really wasn’t confusing or hard to manage around such a huge city. The first thing Nikola noticed was that everything was marked on signs and written down. Literally everything. From traffic cones by the road marking where the electricity lines cross the road (way above it, but it was marked anyway!) to LOOK RIGHT and LOOK LEFT words written on the road on every road crossing. It was really fascinating and very helpful. Thanks, London!

When our host arrived, all tired and distraught because some tube line was shut down, we had our fancy Co-Op dinner (ham and cheese and rolls) and our first London beer. We were completely knackered from the long day and fell asleep immediately.

Saturday, May 6th

I couldn’t sleep too long as always when I’m too excited.

When we both woke up, had a coffee with our hosts and went to grab some breakfast. We agreed the day before that we will have the classic full English breakfast and we found a nice place right near the Regent’s Park. The breakfast was massive and yummy – although Nikola said my version is better (I taught him well).

After breakfast, we walked it off in Regent’s Park. It’s such a lovely place – even though it was cloudy and windy – full of so many different people and so many different dogs! We really enjoyed this piece of green heaven in the middle of this massive city. We wanted to spend more time there but we had to be in Oxford Street by noon for our main plan that day – our tour of London.

If you remember my story from Zagreb away, we met up with three Arsenal fans and showed them around Zagreb, so they wanted to “return the favour” in London.

We met up with Greg and Maggie, our tour guides for the day, close to Oxford Street, and, after lots of hugs, our five-hour tour started.

We wanted to see all the usual tourist stuff, no matter how clichéd it was. This was our first time in London ever!

Mags and Greg took us to all the stunning places – starting from Oxford Street, then over to St James’ Park, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and Parliament, the London Eye, The Shard, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London.

We had a few pint breaks in between of course!

After all the sights, we visited Borough market, a fascinating place that Nikola loved the most because it wasn’t the typical tourist destination and was filled with local people. There we met up with Sean, the last member of our Zagreb group, and his lovely wife, and had more pints in more pubs.

The tour ended at night in Leicester Square where we saw all the lights and so many people having fun and enjoying themselves – none more than us. Mags, Greg, Sean and his wife were so kind to us, showed us everything we wanted to see, shared stories about the city, Arsenal and life, all as if we had been friends for a whole lifetime.

Even though we walked 22km (according to my phone), we were so happy at the end of the day, and fell asleep with massive smiles – excited for the big day on Sunday.

Sunday May 7th

And then came The Day, when we would finally watch our favourite clubs live!

Just like Saturday, we went to another part of town to grab some breakfast. This time it was the iconic Camden Town.

It was, I have to admit, a bit too crowded but it was Sunday morning! We had a breakfast in The Elephant Head pub and went to our next and final destination – Arsenal. My heart was beating like crazy as we were riding the Piccadilly line towards Arsenal station.

We were meeting my friend Larisa, a Croatian Gooner like me, outside the station. She was so kind to let us leave our bags in her rented room right above The Gunners Pub (what a place to rent a room!), and she then showed us around Highbury and the Emirates Stadium, as she’d been here before (lucky her!).

That whole area around Highbury, and the East Stand of course, is simply stunning. I can see myself living in one of those fancy houses with a view of the East Stand and Emirates Stadium within the walking distance. Not sure Nikola would approve, but he’d grow to love it.

I was taking too many photos, but simply couldn’t stop! Kind people inside the Marble Halls let us in and I even got to take a photo with Herbert Chapman! It was all stunning and I wasn’t saying too much because it was all so overwhelming, but it brings a massive smile to my face even now when I’m writing about it.

Then came the Emirates Stadium.

We bought a matchday programme and walked up the stairs to the most beautiful sight in the world. It’s a cliché, but the stadium is more beautiful in real life than in any photo (even those we took on the day).

We walked across the Ken Friar bridge, saw Tony Adams, Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry (all statues, no alive ones), and so many people walking around, doing exactly what we were doing – admiring the view and taking a lot of photos so we wouldn’t forget any piece of it.

After that, it was pub time.

We met up with the Zagreb crew once more in the lovely Eaglet Pub, where we took more photos, had a pint and chatted for a while longer, before we headed up to The Tollington, which was already full of people.

There we finally got to meet some of the Daily Cannon team – Matthew and Helen, who both Nikola and I have chatted to every single day for a few years. It was so exciting and surreal to finally hug them and talk to them in person!

We met so many other people as well, all from Twitter and who I’ve been chatting to on a daily basis for seven years. I won’t list them all because I’m sure I’ll forget someone and don’t want to – there were so many people, and everyone was so nice and kind, hugging us and talking to us as if we’ve been friends for ages. Such a warm welcome.

We walked all together to the Emirates for the actual match. I can’t describe that feeling of seeing the inside of the stadium and the pitch for the first time. Amazing. Overwhelming. Stunning. Beautiful.

A sight and a feeling to remember for a lifetime – which I will, and I’m sure Nikola will too even though it isn’t his team.

We found our seats fast and easy and met up with Ivan and his friend who were sitting next to us. We were right behind the goal with a great view of the whole stadium and De Gea’s butt. As the teams came out, I finally realised it was actually happening.

The whole match went by so fast.

We were listening to chants from Untied fans who were right next to us, and the responses from the Arsenal fans behind us. The performance was amazing, as you all know already. The atmosphere was the usual for the Emirates, at least what I get from the TV at home, but I lost my voice anyway – especially during “F**k off Mourinho”!

Both goals were scored at the other end of the stadium and we didn’t see them properly live (let me tell you, it’s hard to have a good perception of space after the halfway line when you’re sitting so low), but we saw them in their full glory on the big screens.

I was most impressed with my favourite, Laurent Koscielny, and seeing his amazing tackles live was simply brilliant – they look even better up close. The Ox and Xhaka also impressed me, while I could see why so many tend to be frustrated with Ramsey although he ended up having a MOTM performance!

Nikola didn’t enjoy it as much as I did, of course. He had to keep quiet and not comment on anything or be happy about the good chances from United (were there any?), and then they lost in the end!

But, he at least saw them play live, up close, and we agreed our next trip will be to Old Trafford next season.

After the match, the three of us (Nikola, Larisa and I), went back to The Tolly, accompanied by the lovely Jason from Humans Of The Arsenal who wanted to hear my Arsenal story. We managed to see players driving by and people jumping around their cars, and I even took a photo of Mesut’s car – so exciting!

A lovely security guard at the entrance to The Tolly thought I was under 16 and couldn’t go into the pubs, but my ID convinced him that I’m more than 10 years older than that! Inside, it was crazy.

More members of the Daily Cannon crew joined us so we met Charley, Paul and Amrit, as well as so many other people from Twitter that just came over to say they follow me and wanted to say hi! I won’t even begin to list them all because I will again forget someone.

I’m not sure how many pints we had, but, after long chat about Arsenal, history, present, future, tennis, football in general, life in general – we had to go to grab the tube to Victoria and our bus to Gatwick for a 7am flight back home. We met with one more Croatian Gooner, Filip, who had a pint with us in The Gunners Pub, to circle the perfect Arsenal matchday.

We grabbed our bags and jumped on the tube.

We then experienced a typical London thing – a tube line was shut and we had to take two other ones to get to our destination, only to be two minutes late for our bus. Luckily, we had six hours until our flight (which didn’t make me any more relaxed, I love to panic over nothing). We just grabbed the later one, and got to Gatwick five hours before our flight.

Everything went well with check in (although I had to take off my shoes during security check!) and we boarded our flight on time. Gatwick airport is massive, it felt like a whole typical-sized Croatian shopping centre was in the departures terminal! And there were so many planes everywhere, literally one taking off every three minutes – it was fascinating.

The flight back home was when we finally got to get some sleep after being awake for 24 hours straight. It was without any problems again, and we landed in Zagreb on Monday at 10am.

We kissed goodbye with Larisa, and my dad took us home.

The end

I’m still taking it all in, and, as you can tell, I’m very excited about it all, and telling every little detail to anyone who asks (although I left out some minor parts here!).

I will continue with it because it was such an amazing weekend, a dream come true – an amazing Saturday with all the stunning sights and a fantastic group of people that showed us around, and the perfect Sunday with Arsenal, the match and the Gooners.

We will definitely come back to do it all over again.

Thank you everyone for making us feel so welcome, and thank you Arsenal for showing up in a massive match, and making this weekend absolutely perfect.