Layth Yousif has been covernig Arsenal for years, working for the Islington Gazette, Football.London and now as the editor of the long-standing Arsenal fanzine, The Gooner.
When did you start supporting Arsenal and why?
When my dad came to England he started watching The Arsenal. And when I came along he took me with him.
Then I started going with school pals as well as mates we met along the way.
Prior to lockdown it was like being in a social club when we all met up for pre-match beers when I wasn't working in the press box.
In my life I must have done more than 2,000 Arsenal games and counting, if you also include U23s, U21s, U18s, the old Combination and South East Counties teams as well as Arsenal Women, as a fan and in a professional capacity.
What was your first Arsenal match?
Arsenal 2-1 Swansea City. New Years Day 1983.
I still remember seeing Highbury and the pitch for the first time. Gives me goose bumps even now, thinking about it.
I can still remember being awed by Pat Jennings massive hands that day. I had the pleasure of interviewing Pat a few years back and he was a real gentleman. After the interview finished I told him my memory about his hands and he smiled and said 'It's funny what you remember from games as a kid'. So true.
I still miss Highbury now. I don't care if I'm biased and looking back at it with rose-tinted spectacles, for me I will always associate Highbury with happy times, good friends and at times, incredible football played by incredible footballers.
Who was your first Arsenal hero and why?
Charlie Nicholas. He was such a colourful player and character in such a grey era. And the fact he always scored against Spurs.
I remember one game against them in late April 1984. There was trouble everywhere that day. Really horrible.
But I can still picture Charlie waltzing through their defence to score and win the game 3-2 in front of a delirious North Bank on a glorious baking hot afternoon.
Who is favourite ever Arsenal player and why?
Tony Adams. As a fan I probably saw around 90 per cent of his games for Arsenal home and away: a true colossus.
Having interviewed him a few times over the years after he retired, as a journalist I loved listening to him speak about his time playing for The Arsenal.
I once interviewed him in a swanky hotel in Paddington. There were all sorts of high and mighty guests with the backdrop being a man in a tux playing a piano.
Yet, despite being in such a plush place, about ten minutes into our interview Tony was moving the salt and pepper shakers, teapot and cups and even my shorthand notes all over the table discussing the Arsenal back four with me. I loved every second of that.
What’s your biggest Arsenal regret/disappointment?
The 1991 FA Cup semi-final. 1995 European Cup Winners Cup final. 2006 Champions League final. I was at all three. I literally couldn't speak afterwards. On top of that, each and every time we lose to the Lilywhites (Tottenham).
What is your favourite Arsenal memory (away from the pitch) and why?
Away from the game? It's about the camaraderie isn't it? So many to choose from. I've probably done more than 100 European away games over the years and there have been some really riotous times across the continent that I couldn't possibly share on here.
Every away trip in England used to be a laugh when a big group of us used to go for a weekend somewhere up north depending on who we were playing.
Over the years we were always more harm to ourselves than anyone else in any number of incredibly hapless ways, but we always seemed to get into various random scrapes for various reasons in Liverpool and Manchester when we played Liverpool, Everton, City and United. But those stories are best told over a pint!
As a responsible dad of three Junior Gunners I'll say taking my young son to the 2014 FA Cup final and taking my youngest daughter to the 2015 FA Cup final. Precious memories.
And as a journalist, it has to be reporting on the 2017 FA Cup final from the Wembley press box, after having covered every round from the preliminary round onwards in a professional capacity.
What is your favourite ever Arsenal match?
One match? Blimey. I've probably been to most of the games that ended in silverware, from the 1987 Littlewoods Cup final onwards. Copenhagen ‘94 was special.
The day we won the Premier League by beating Everton 4-0 at Highbury in 1998 was a day I'll never forget.
Those big games at Highbury in the late 1980s were pretty special too. 54,000 vs United in the FA Cup with the whole of the North Bank jumping as one as Brian McClair skied his penalty.
As an aside I played football with Nigel Winterburn a few years ago and I asked him afterwards what he said to McClair. He said: 'I'm not telling you!' Which kind of makes it even more intriguing.
Everton in the 1988 League Cup semi-final second leg was an amazing night - probably the best atmosphere I ever experienced at Highbury.
I also hugely enjoyed being at White Hart Lane to watch us win the Premier League in 2004. Not to mention one off games such as being in the Bernabeu in 2006 when The Arsenal beat the mighty Real Madrid with one of the greatest goals in our club's history, scored by one of its greatest players. So, so many memories to choose from.
But to answer your question, if I had to name one game it would be Spurs 1-2 Arsenal in the Littlewoods Cup semi-final replay on March 4, 1987. 12,000 Gooners going mental in the away end after Rocky (David Rocastle) and Ian Allison scored with seconds left to send us to Wembley.
Without that, I firmly believe Anfield ‘89 would never have happened two years later.
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