Pete Wood AKA Pedro after another FA Cup triumph at Wembley
Pete Wood (@LeGrove) has been running the Le Grove blog since 2007 and now also has a podcast called The Arsenal Opinion which you can listen to here.
Now exiled in New York, he still gets to watch every Arsenal game and is back in the stadium when global viruses allow it.
When did you start supporting Arsenal and why?
I have supported Arsenal since day zero. There was no choice. It was the purest form of indoctrination by my dad. I think I wavered at one point and the threat of a cancelled Christmas was wielded with seriousness.
My dad always tells me that my birth at Great Portland Street Clinic was strategic because the closest football stadium was Highbury.
It was a good decision. I liked the kits. I grew to love the boring, boring Arsenal football under George Graham. Arsenal rewarded my teenage years by giving me Arsene Wenger and his spectacular brand of football and a squad after squad of golden players.
I also became a writer off the back of my obsession with the club.
What was your first Arsenal match?
I think it was Arsenal vs Derby when I was three years old, in the East Stand. We won 2-1. I don’t remember it. Point is, I was there as a toddler and I did NOT leave early.
Who was your first Arsenal hero and why?
I had two Arsenal heroes. Ian Wright because he was spectacular and Paul Merson because my dad put him in a JVC advert he produced and had him sign it for me.
Both players were rough around the edges, extremely energetic, and they did spectacular things on the pitch.
Who is your favourite ever Arsenal player and why?
Dennis Bergkamp, without doubt. The very fact that for a short moment in time, Arsenal broke the transfer record to sign him for £7.5m was spectacular. He was a world star, everyone knew him, everyone was jealous.
He brought a different level of technical ability to the Premier League. He was sublime on the ball, he scored spectacular goals, and he had an edge you only get with the best players.
He put Arsenal on the map. His signing started it all.
Shortly after Arsene Wenger joined. He continued to give his all, he won the league with us, and even as his career came to a close, he agreed to stay on year after year with one-year deals.
I wish we took that approach to over 30s now. He loved the club, he was just as Arsenal as Tony Adams. A true, true legend of the club.
What is your biggest Arsenal regret/disappointment?
Never winning a European trophy under Arsene Wenger. We had so many good squads. So many legendary players.
We really should have done better. Vieira missing a penalty against Galatasaray. Going down to 10 men against Barcelona. We were always just short in that tournament.
You also regret all the cup finals you lose and attend. The Liverpool in the early 2000s when we were cheated out of it always sticks in the throat. The drive home from Cardiff is beyond painful.
Thankfully we didn’t lose too often when we played games there.
What is your favourite Arsenal memory and why?
My entire football upbringing was geared around my dad and footballing family. Every memory I have growing up is related to an emotion tied to going to Arsenal.
All my best moments were watching football with my dad. The wins, the losses, the freezing cold nights sitting in the stands singing with the fans.
2017 was a rough year for my family in general. Arsenal made it to the FA Cup Final against Chelsea. I managed to get tickets for my dad. I spent $2000 on a flight back. No one, and I mean no one thought we had a chance in hell… and we delivered one of the greatest days of football I can remember.
My uncle always says football is measured in parties. To have parties, you need cup finals. That was a massive party and I’ll never forget it. Football is about family, blood, and extended. Sharing those moments together is what it’s all about.
I’ll also never forget the hangover. My oh my did that land with a thump.
What is your favourite ever Arsenal match?
Arsenal had the chance to win the Premier League at Old Trafford. The night before, I was working at First Sport, Lakeside. I landed a call from my cousin and I took it in the stockroom, it was an away day ticket to the game.
I was pretty young. It was my first adult away day. We drank beers, mixed with the away fans, and sat in the away end.
The game was electric, we played in our gold kit, Sylvain Wiltord gave us the three points when he finished off Freddie Ljungberg’s parried shot. What a night.
We left as Champions. Nothing feels better than sneaking out of an away stadium needing to keep quiet just in case you get in trouble with the locals.