As with my last notes a couple of days ago I am writing these on board a coach. With me are 38 very tired but ecstatically happy travelling Gooners. Dortmund, it has been a pleasure.
This was my fourth visit to the city, three times to see us play Borussia and once while on route to another Champions League destination. Only this time however, have I enjoyed the hospitality for a couple of days.
As a destination for European football Germany never fails and once again it has been thoroughly entertaining on all fronts.
Tuesday's fun and games finished well into the early hours including a rather amusing TV interview with Germany's equivalent of the BBC where they insisted we sang our song for the BFG!
Matchday arrived with many nursing a large degree of fragility, something that only more entertainment could ease.
Borussia's colourful fans couldn't have been more hospitable, meaning it was a fantastic build-up to the main reason for us being in this part of the world.
Signal Iduna Park is one of our sport's great stadia and it was full to the rafters. Our hosts' support in the game in London was enough evidence that we were in for a noisy night.
Believe me, our magnificent travelling army of Gooners matched them on the noise front.
As expected Borussia enjoyed the lion's share of possession in the first half but it was hugely satisfying to limit them to just one major chance and go into the break level.
The more the game went on we looked more dangerous going forward and then our moment came. Rambo nodded home and it was complete and total carnage. A complete mess of writhing red-and-white bodies is the only way I can describe the away end. Get in!
The next few minutes were crazy and could and possibly should have seen us double our lead on three or four occasions. By not doing so it made it an extremely nervous last 20 minutes or so.
As it had been all night, our defensive work was quite superb and the three points were ours. Simply awesome.
A massive result, the first English club to ever win in Dortmund in the Champions League and the first time our hosts haven't scored at home for 60-odd games - that demonstrates just how big an achievement it is.
As you can imagine we celebrated with gusto long into the night and the smiles we went to bed with are still evident as we head home today.
A European adventure right up there with the very best and it gives us a great chance to qualify.
Firstly however, we have the small matter of an away trip to Old Trafford on Sunday.
Once again we will need to be at our very best to get a result.
There are many Gooners with croaky voices this morning, we have a few days to get them ready to make lots more noise on Sunday.
So proud, so so proud.
Frank
@stubbsy70
Copyright 2024 The Arsenal Football Club Limited. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source.
