Gooner Gossip Soph (@tv_gooner) runs the Gooner Gossip TV YouTube channel and is a passionate supporter of Arsenal.
When did you start supporting Arsenal and why?
I started supporting Arsenal back in 2014/15. I really love the Emirates Stadium and I really admired Arsene Wenger growing up.
I thought the way he conducted himself in interviews was so classy. When we played against managers like Mourinho you could really see the passion and love Wenger has for this club. He would defend the team and the club every game and I'm very grateful for that. I'm very proud to say that he represented Arsenal and he was a big part of our history.
I was lucky enough to watch talented players like Sanchez, Ozil, Wilshere and Giroud at Arsenal.
However I think one of the main reasons why I became a Gooner was because of this famous Dennis Bergkamp quote '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..'
Since I've supported Arsenal this club has always felt like home to me. I really loved the free flowing beautiful football we played under Arsene Wenger. Arsenal have always felt like a part of a family. The Arsenal community is so special and welcoming.
What was your first Arsenal match?
The first ever Arsenal game I went to was when Arsenal beat Newcastle 4-0 in 2020 before lockdown.
Walking into the Emirates for the very first time I was lost for words. I thought the stadium was so beautiful and I felt so lucky and privileged to be here watching an Arsenal game. I have dreamt about this day for years and to finally go to the Emirates to watch the team I love play was such an incredible and wonderful feeling.
The stadium was massive and it was packed. It was full of so many Arsenal fans. Where I was sat I had a great view and I could see the players down on the pitch which I thought was so awesome.
In the second half the goals started coming and I was near the goal when we scored so I felt so close to the players and that filled me with so much joy and happiness. When we scored our first goal I jumped of my seat like so many other Arsenal fans. I'm glad my first Arsenal game I went to was full of lots of Arsenal goals.
Whenever we scored I could see how passionate and enthusiastic the fans were. The atmosphere was just overwhelming. I remember thinking I don't want the game to end because the atmosphere was so noisy. When we scored the 1st goal we just couldn't stop scoring and that made me happy and the fans were so supportive of the team. I loved singing along to the Arsenal chants with the other Arsenal fans and I loved the togetherness of the fans in the stadium.
Fans would stand up of their seat and chant "We love you Arsenal, we do." It was like we were all a family supporting our team together. It was so cool seeing Arteta on sidelines, being so passionate about our club and I could see how happy he was when we scored lots of goals. To see the team live for the very first time was fantastic and such a dream come true for me. It was a day I will never forget.
Who was your first Arsenal hero and why?
My first Arsenal hero would definitely be Bukayo Saka. As I've mentioned before I did start to support Arsenal in 2014/15 but Saka is a fantastic role model to me and he's someone I look up to. I definitely see him as an inspiration and I'm really proud and privileged that he represents our club.
He is Arsenal through and through and you can see that by his performances every game. He will give everything on that pitch and for the badge. That's the type of player you want to represent The Arsenal.
When he missed the penalty at the Euros and received racial abuse it was just so heartbreaking to see that but Bukayo received a letter from a young Arsenal fan called Teddy. Teddy gave Saka his pocket money and wrote a heartfelt letter to Bukayo.
Bukayo played football with Teddy and had an ice cream with him. I thought that shows what type of person Saka is. Down to earth, humble but very considerate and kind.
Who is your favourite ever Arsenal player and why?
It's very difficult to choose my favourite Arsenal player of all time because we've had so many amazing players over the years but for me Rocky and Wrighty will always have a special place in my heart.
They are both my favourite Arsenal players ever. They both really appreciate and adore Arsenal and they loved playing together. They knew what it meant to represent The Arsenal. They had such a special connection on the pitch and they were both very talented and hardworking players.
What’s your biggest Arsenal regret/disappointment?
For me when we lost to Chelsea in the Europa League final at Baku. I was heartbroken and I was absolutely devastated!
Growing up all I've ever seen was Arsenal getting into FA Cup finals so I thought this was a massive step for the club to get into a European final. However I believe that everything happens for a reason and sometimes things aren't supposed to be.
What is your favourite Arsenal memory (away from the pitch) and why?
This is such a tough question to answer because I've been fortunate enough to have so many amazing Arsenal memories. I was lucky enough to interview Kevin Campbell on my Youtube channel a few weeks ago. Kevin is so positive and supportive towards the team and as a person he's so down to earth and such a genuine person.
I have always looked up to Laura Woods as she's very inspirational for younger women like myself. She's an amazing and knowledgeable presenter on talkSport and I love listening to her on the radio and on TV.
I tweeted about how much of an inspiration she is to me and she saw my tweets and kindly followed me back. She's always been supportive of me, when I received some unkind messages online she took the time out of her day to show me support.
She would reply to my tweets often and I got in touch with her and asked her if she would like to do a video with me on my Youtube channel. She said "I would love to. Would you like to see me in person?" I went to see her at talkSport and I also did work experience there. It was such incredible opportunity and it was such a dream come true. It all started from there and she kindly invited me to go to the North London Derby with her.
It was so thoughtful of Laura to invite me to go to the game with her and her family. She's such a thoughtful and amazing person.
While I was at the game with Laura I had the privilege of meeting Ray Parlour. Ray is so lovely, such a gentleman and a legend of this club. I'm very lucky to have had so many great Arsenal memories.
What is your favourite ever Arsenal match?
Arsenal winning the league at Anfield in 1989 with George Graham. When I watched the documentary back it gave me goosebumps and it made me emotional. I just couldn't believe it. That we did it.
We had to win by 2 goals to nil and in the first half we didn't score any goals. We got the free kick in the second half which Alan Smith headed into the back of the net but it wasn't until the last seconds of the game that Michael Thomas scored the goal to win us that league title.
How amazing and incredible was that! It shows you that anything is possible in football and you can do anything you set your mind to. If you believe, anything is possible
To watch Soph on her YouTube channel, please click HERE