Today I did something I once only dreamed of – seeing Arsenal play live.

I don’t recall why I decided to barrack fro Arsenal. Living in Adelaide there is no logical reason but sometime in the early 70s I reached that decision. Beartie Mee was manager, Charlie George was someone I’d heard of and that was really all. I don’t think I knew they had won the double. This was a time when we got the classified scores on the radio Sunday mornings and the scores in the paper on Mondays. We had Match of the Day highlights during the week, and the only game we ever saw live was the FA Cup Final.

Fast forard 45 years and today I was at The Emirates to see Arsenal play Burnely.

It was a lunchtine kick-off which for a football novice was a bonus.

I wanted to soak up the day and so I set off from our base in Farringdon at just after 10am. A change in Kings Cross and at about 10.45 I was at Arsenal Station.

Walking out onto the road there was a buzz. Burgers, sausages and souvenir stalls as well as a ticket tout. I walked slowly down the street. I’d been here about 10 years before for a tour but today was so different.

I checked out the merchandise and then walked up the stairs and across the gantry to the stadium. I was getting excited. I did a slow circuit of the ground just lapping it up. I am used to seeing my AFL club play at home where my club, Adelaide shares its ground with its arch rival Port Adelaide. The Emirates is just completely Arsenal. No other colours, just Red.

From there it was into the stadium. Security was more intense than I’d ever seen before. Bag checks were strictly observed and then a pat search for everyone on entry. I had a corporate seat, booked before we left Australia, as although I have been a member for a few years I don’t have sufficent priority to be guaranteed a seat. It was expensive but it was likely to be a once in a lifetime experience so to heck with the cost.

After a drink I take my seat above the away supporters with a commanding view of the ground. With about 5 minutes to go the ground is still only half full but as the whistle sounds by panatmime villan referee, Mike Dean, the ground is full.

It’s game on. I’m actually seeing players I have only ever seen on my home TV or iPad usually in the middle of the night. The team line up includes new signings David Luiz, Dani Ceballos with Nicholas Pepe on the bench.

Arsenal dominate play early and score early with an equaliser from Burnley just before halftime.

The halftime break is short but there was still time for the gunner mascot, recently voted the most popular in the world to be in goal as kids take penalties – no surprise the mascot misses them all!

The second half begins with Arsenal taking complete control. Aubameyang has a blazing shot stopped by a great save from Burnley’s goalkeeper, Pope, but shortly after scores the winning goal.

The game remains tense and then Mike Dean blows his whistle to end the game – Arsenal 2, Burnley 1.

To the sounds of Sweet Caroline, the Arsenal players acknowledge the crowd and walk off to the cheers of the crowd and its over.

Slowly I make my way from the ground, a smile on my face. I think how lucky I am to have been at an English Premier League game, to have seen Arsenal play and win with goals from their talismen, Lacasette and Aubameyang.

I walk out of the ground via the merchandise shop, buying a cap while others hand over the best part of 100 pounds for a team shirt.

From there it is onto the street and the tube station. The queue is a couple of hundred metres long so I think of walking onto the next station but the queue is much shorter on the other side of the station and so I decide to join it. I am quickly onto the tube and then via King Cross Station I am back at the hotel.

A boyhood dream fulfilled.