For Jessica Shannon, watching her beloved Arsenal play at Emirates Stadium was a lifetime ambition.
Jessica, from Texas, took the internet by storm last summer with her reaction to seeing the Gunners in person for the first time in Charlotte, North Carolina during their pre-season tour of the United States.
I’ve been an @Arsenal fan for nearly 20 years yet never seen them live. My boyfriend captured my reaction as @MesutOzil1088 @LacazetteAlex @Aubameyang7 entered the pitch. Thank you for visiting us, Gooners. @PLinUSA @PLinUSA @arsenalamerica #arsenalinusa pic.twitter.com/SKzevsIZBZ
— Jessica (@jessicas0226) July 20, 2019
She was then invited to join Rebecca Lowe live on NBC Sports during the Premier League Mornings Live event in Austin, Texas, last October, having no idea her dream was about to come true.
Thanks to the Premier League and Arsenal, she was given tickets to see Arsenal play a league match at Emirates Stadium.
Jessica, a paediatric chaplain at a children's hospital, was keen not just to see the matches but also to enjoy the authentic matchday experience of Arsenal fans in London.
Pie and beer
So after stopping for a delicious pie at Piebury Corner, Jessica soaked up the pre-match atmosphere at The Tollington Arms, where she got to pull a pint of beer.
From meeting Arsenal legends Charlie George and Lee Dixon, whose punditry on NBC she was so familiar with, to sitting in Mikel Arteta's seat, Jessica enjoyed an unforgettable experience.
"I had the dream day, which was creating that atmosphere of Highbury in The Tollington and then being with the fans and just being a part of really soaking in the whole atmosphere," she said. "It's been surreal and just a dream."
