12 goals and indoors: Our forgotten game in the US

For the third summer in succession, our men's first-team have headed across the Atlantic for a series of pre-season fixtures, playing in front of packed crowds delighted to see their heroes in action live.

We've certainly come a long way - and not just geographically. Our first ever game in the USA was on a post-season tour in 1972, when we beat Miami Gaos 3-2 thanks to goals from Charlie George, Ray Kennedy and John Radford, but a mere 4,725 spectators turned out to see us. A

And if you thought that was low-key, then our second flavour of life in the US came in front of just under double that number, was played indoors and with some unfamiliar rules to get to grips with.

In January 1986, a youthful Gunners side, led by then reserve-team manager Terry Burton headed to New York City after being invited to be the first-ever opponents for the New York Express.

The club from the Big Apple had only formed in 1985, and trying to get themselves admitted to the Major Indoor Soccer League would play a series of friendly matches against illustrious opponents including Red Star Belgrade, Sporting Lisbon and the Ireland and Portugal national sides - as well as an Arsenal side made up of reserve and youth players.

"This offer came in for us to go and Don Howe, who was the manager at the time, said: 'Look, there’s a game in New York' and off we went," Burton recalled. "Obviously, we were delighted; it was the middle of our season, there was not much else to look forward to, and suddenly we’re off to New York. 

"It was my first visit. Some of the players there went on to really become household names."

Burton was correct, and those Gooners in the sparse attendance at the Nassau Coliseum on January 24, 1986 would have been treated to a slice of the future. Tony Adams featured, having made his first-team breakthrough the season before, and while the names of Michael Thomas, Paul Merson and Rocastle would have only been known to Arsenal aficionados, all would go on to carve out legendary careers in north London.

Despite all that raw talent, the conditions favoured the hosts. The Gunners were unused to playing inside an arena on a synthetic pitch, and the game featured innovations used in the Major Indoor Soccer League such as roll-on substitutions. In the end, it was no surprise we slipped to a 7-5 defeat.

However, the result would not mar what had been a memorable trip for Burton and his talented young squad.

"It was pretty special for us to go," he added. "We weren’t there long; I think it was a four-day trip or something. We trained the day before, then played the game. I think we had one day, the day after, and then we were off. 

"It was a pretty short trip because it really was coming over, playing football and going home, which was unfortunate because we’d have all loved to have stayed a bit longer.

"I can sort of remember it was cold, and the steam was coming up from the grills from the subway. Those little impressions of it still stick with me, that atmosphere of New York. It’s always special there - but the first visit was excellent. It was just a real good experience, one of those times that makes being involved in football pretty special.”

The link between us and New York Express continued as later that year, our former defender Chris Whyte swapped north London for North America as he joined the fledgling club, who were accepted into the MISL for the 1986/87 campaign. 

Despite beginning promising start with a victory at our expense, the Express won just three games out of 26 in their new league, and went bankrupt in February 1987 before the season had ended. While their history is short and sweet, they still played a part in our American association, which grew from strength to strength as the decades rolled on.

With thanks to David Kilpatrick and ArsenalAmerica.com