Wednesday 8th December

Tonight I'm off to the Emirates to see Arsenal's final Champions League group game against Partizan Belgrade with Alex and Will. When Alex had suggested the game a few weeks ago it seemed like it'd be a nice cheap(ish) way to see some live football – though as it was the last game of the group it seemed like the match itself would be unlikely to mean much. As it happens, Arsenal conspired to screw up the previous couple of matches, making the Partizan encounter a firm “must win” if they are to qualify for the knockout stages of the competition.

After work I grab a quick bite to eat and meet Alex at the tube, heading down to Finsbury Park. We wander up to the World's End to grab a quick pint before making our way to the stadium and meeting Will and his mate. The pub is busy and they're on the usual matchday plastic cups – though tonight it's slightly surreal to be among those actually heading out to the game rather than waiting for the ticketholders to leave to get a decent seat.

Will is running late so we walk down and meet him outside the club shop before heading to another pub near Gillespie Road. By the time we finally find our way to seats 958-961 in block 125, the game is a couple of minutes old – but we don't seem to have missed much action. The Emirates is a great place to watch football, and while Arsenal aren't my team it's always been a pleasure to watch them here. This is the first really meaningful game I've seen here though meaning there's that spark of Champions League fever in the air for the duration.

Arsenal win a first-half penalty at our end of the pitch, which is converted by Robin van Persie, then concede an equaliser before half time that makes things that bit edgier. Two later goals from Nasri and Walcott, however, see Arsenal safely through to the last sixteen, albeit in second place. It's an entertaining match with a fair bit of incident (four goals, a penalty and even a red card in stoppage time) but Arsenal never look especially troubled.

After the game we walk, with the usual thousands and police escorts, back to the Worlds End for a couple more drinks. Tired and utterly freezing cold (it's about -1 tonight and sitting outside for two hours is probably not the way to handle it), the pub is a great place to warm up before heading home.