Arsenal vs Manchester City - EPL

With various train disruption around the south east I decided it was another Vera V-Strom day out.

I set off in bright sunshine for the ride up to the Emirates. With a kick off at 4.30pm I thought a 2pm departure for a 75 mile trip was sufficient.

I hadn't banked on the M20 having two low limits sections at both J9 and J8. Plus roadworks at J5 to hold me up. Then once I had enjoyed the loop onto the M25 the dulling reality of the overhead saying the Blackwall Tunnel was closed. So it was over Dartford instead. It was actually very easy flowing, maybe at last something was going my way... then once four lanes of traffic had entered two by two lanes (4!!!) with a 50mph limit, the whole lot slowed to walking pace..... Why?

Once on the A13 and then up to Hackey past the Olympic Park traffic got heavier and heavier. I finally parked up at 3.53pm!!

The match? History since Etihad bought the club and funded them with a few billion dollars hasn't been kind to us. We haven't beaten them in the league since 2015 I think.

Some nervy moments in the first ten minutes and then we began to grow into the game. Sitting too deep vegan to frustrate the home fans. Bright spots were Haaland effortlessly controlled by Willo at the back. When he did get away Gabriel took over.

Some contentious moments when Michael Oliver refereeing allowed two nasty tackles from behind by Kocacic to only get a yellow card. The TV pundits on Sky thought red for the first. Maybe the brown envelopes and free holiday the week before to the middle east worked in City's favour - Allegedly.

Gradually we came more and more dominant, a ball into Havertz, controlled, laid off the another substitute Martinelli, whose shot was deflected off Ake's face into the net...

We fully expected to be battered by City in the last 10 mins including added time. It didn't happen.

The ride home however was almost as bad. I was down to 33 miles range and needed fuel. I headed through the City of London. Commercial Road was chocked with traffic. With the Blackwall Tunnel still closed the Rotherhithe Tunnel was being over used. 

So guess? The cretins that manage London closed a long length of the approach to the right turn to the tunnel. DOH!

Once past this the A13 was heavy all the way to the Dartford Crossing. The M25 at a standstill on the approach to the Bridge and slow over it.

In contrast to earlier, traffic northbound was way back beyond the A2 junction.

Petrol at Dartford BP. A full tank of E5.

Once back on the motorway it was pksin sailing past Maidstone and the two lower limit parts of the M20.

The surprise this way was M20 J11 was closed. It's my exit.

It was dead on 9pm when I pulled up behind Molly. Claire opened up the garage. Then we noticed I had ridden the whole way home with keys dangling from the top box lock! All the way I'd guess!!!

Phew. A superb game and another 150 miles or so under the wheels ...