Where did the idea for the True Gunner Diary website originate? When and why did I become a London Arsenal fan? How did I get into writing sports articles in the first place? The answers to these questions can be found here, in the About Me section, where I would like to introduce myself and the site itself.

My work

With writing sports articles under the alias Adammm25 I started in 2023 on a bookmaker platform Tipsport, where I have since released more than 100 blogs. At first I was writing about general football topics, then I started writing exclusively about the Premier League, from which I eventually switched to the topic that is closest to my heart - Arsenal. So with the start of the 2024/2025 season, the blog series called True Gunner Diary. I don't need to explain any more, I took my "artistic" nickname and name with me to my own website, where I will continue writing of course.

Why did I decide to go my own way? The reason is very simple, I wanted to do everything my way.

Affection for Arsenal

My football journey with a cannon on my chest started in the 2005/2006 season. I consider it to be the breakthrough game that started my love not only for the North London team, but for football in England in general. Champions League match between Arsenal and Juventus at Highbury in 2006in which the Gunnres won 2-0 after goals from Fàbregas and Henry. So you could say that since that memorable match I've been a Gunners fan.

And why did I choose Arsenal? To answer that question, let me use a quote from one of the best players to ever play for Arsenal, Dennis Bergkampwhich reads: "When you start supporting a football club, you don't support it because of the trophies, or a player, or history; you support it because you found yourself somewhere there - found a place where you belong." I couldn't have put it better myself.

Over the years I've supported the North London club, I've already fulfilled several fan dreams in the forefront of match attendancewhich I will get to in the following lines and a tour of the Emirates Stadium (several viewings, to be honest). Lots more dreams and goals for me in the years to come. Visiting the North London derby with Tottenham is very high on my list, or maybe a tour of the training centre in Colney. Of course, there's a lot more, but I'll keep that to myself for now.

Visits

I have been lucky enough to attend several Arsenal games during my fan career. Both at the Emirates Stadium and away from home. For my first ever my parents took me to my first Arsenal game in London back in 2008. Arsenal then played in the Premier League against Portsmouth, who managed to pull away thanks to a late goal from William Gallas, 1-0. Subsequently, over the years I have attended other matches at the Emirates Stadium (for example against Newcastle or Manchester United). I also saw Arsenal with my own eyes at Letná in Prague, where Arsene Wenger's team was still playing in the Champions League. When the Canaries headed for a summer friendly in nearby Nurembergso of course I had to be there.

Season 2024/2025

In recent years I have started going to Arsenal games much more often than in the past. The 2024/2025 season was a turning point, when I went to the Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk (at the Emirates Stadium) and Sporting Lisbon (at Estádio José Alvalade). In the Premier League I also had the opportunity to be at the small London derby with Fulham (at the Emirates Stadium).

Season 2025/2026

I kicked off the 2025/2026 season by attending a preparatory match with Villareal, which Arsenal unfortunately lost. However, I made up for it on my next trip, as I went to the Champions League match against Atlético Madrid. Arsenal, with the loud support of the roaring Emirates, overcame the Spanish opponent and won 4:0. I was back in the stands at the Emirates in London for a league game with Wolverhampton, which offered a heart attack with a happy ending. Less than two weeks after the league game against Wolves, I travelled to London for the EFL Cup quarter-final, in which Arsenal welcomed neighbouring Crystal Palace. Once again I saw a dramatic game, because Arsenal's progress was decided by the eighth series of penalty shootout. I concluded my collection of all the competitions Arsenal entered in the season with the fourth round of the FA Cup, in which Arsenal easily defeated the third division at home. Wigan. But I'm not done yet. The next game I attended in the 2025/2026 season was League clash with Everton, in which Arsenal won 2-0. As a bonus, I watched Max Dowman rewrite the Premier League's historical tables by becoming the youngest ever goalscorer in the competition.

Gallery

Below you can see a few photos from a fan's point of view and at least a little bit of the atmosphere of the mentioned matches.

Arsenal vs Shakhtar Donetsk (CL, 22. 10. 2024)

Sporting Lisbon vs Arsenal (CL, 26. 11. 2024)

Arsenal vs Fulham (PL, 1. 4. 2025)

Arsenal vs Villareal (FR, 6. 8. 2025)

Arsenal vs Atlético Madrid (CL, 21. 10. 2025)

Arsenal vs. Wolverhampton (PL, 13. 12. 2025)

Arsenal vs Crystal Palace (EFL Cup, 23. 12. 2025)

Arsenal vs Wigan (FA Cup, 15. 2. 2026)

Arsenal vs Everton (PL, 14. 3. 2026)