I HAD NOT been to Leicester since the old days of Filbert Street so as soon as their promotion to the Premier League had been confirmed, this was one of the first away days I had pencilled in.
2014-15 actually marks my 34th season watching the Gooners and my, how things have changed. Back in 1981 football was a very different animal. Hooliganism was at its peak, grounds were in various states of disrepair and you never knew with any certainty if you would make it home from an away day in one piece.
But while many aspects of the modern football experience are so much better, it has been somewhat watered down. On the pitch the product is far slicker and it is perfect for the worldwide TV audience. Footballers are far easier on the eye for a start. Well most of them are; Leicester goalscorer Ulloa one of the obvious exceptions.
But it has lost its soul along the way. As the cries of 'Buy a f**king striker' rang out from the away end following this rather uninspiring 1-1 draw against a hard working but limited opponent, I began to realise that the biggest change has been to the people who now inhabit the stadiums. But I don't blame them. Not really. I blame modern society.
My first visit to Leicester was in 1983. The old Filbert Street ground was in a right old mess back then. The view from the away end was awful with pillars and fences everywhere, which was probably just as well as Arsenal lost 3-0. Yes we were all upset about it and I recall a few boos at the final whistle but it was no big deal.
We didn't have to suffer endless analysis on TV about where it had all gone wrong. We spend an hour or so on the train home doing that for ourselves. Yes, back in the 1980s we were allowed to think for ourselves.
'Charlie Nicholas is not doing it, is he?'
'What was up with Woodcock today?'
'Why is he playing bloody Colin Hill and David Madden.'
But by the time we had arrived back at Kings Cross the only things that mattered were McDonald's and the next match.
Luckily the game was not on MOTD that night so we could tell our mates that actually we were very unlucky and that we should have had at least three blatant penalties. I mean, they'd never know.
But in 2014 a 1-1 draw now feels like the end of the world. Even before the final whistle had blown, there were messages from all over the world saying things like, 'Wenger needs a striker,' 'Sanogo is not good enough,' and 'Arsenal are shite.' Yes, very original.
There is no hiding place now. Everyone has seen it. And even if they haven't they will have heard all about it through social media. Football is not just for the die-hard fan any more, it is for everyone.
And this has seeped into the stadiums. People who have known nothing but the Premier League, Sky TV and transfer deadlines in August expect us to win 6-0 every week. And if we don't then there is only one answer; spend some f**king money.
I left the King Power Stadium far more upset with the reaction of the Arsenal fans than the performance of the team. Yes, we were flat, and despite oodles of possession we were probably slightly fortunate to come away with a point in the end.
But listening to all the moaning going on you'd have thought we had just witnessed a repeat of the 1983 result.
Luckily that nostalgia was not lost on the Leicester fans to our left. Say what you like about the modern football fan but it is reassuring to know that the spirit of the 1980s is still alive and well in some parts of the country at least.
It took me back to one particular visit to Filbert Street back in 1984 when the Leicester faithful decided to throw bricks at us. This lot were probably their grandchildren and instead of bricks it was just banter and bravado being thrown this time. Still, at least it provided a nice distraction from the impending transfer deadline day and our inadequacies up front.
So a rather unsatisfactory away day in the end. It makes you wonder why you bother at all. But that flame, burning so bright back in 1983, just refuses to go out. A quick glance at the fixture list told me that Sunderland away in October is next on my agenda. I just hope that is better than the 3-0 defeat we suffered there in 1982. Give me Sanogo over Lee Chapman any day!
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