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Arsenal supporters are a committed bunch. 

With 10 of our first 15 matches this season away from home in 2026/27, some are already racking up miles over land and sea to watch the Gunners.

We followed a group of faithfuls on a coach trip up to Nottingham Forest to get an insight into life on the road as an Arsenal supporter.

These are their stories.

TINA & BARBARA

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This mother-daughter duo have been watching Arsenal up and down the country, and beyond, since the 1970s - and there's no sign of slowing down just yet.

While long trips to Newcastle and the like can often take over five hours, Tina, 59, and Barbara, 84, will come with plenty of provisions in order to pass the time.

"We've made afternoon tea for our longer trips!" Tina recalls. "While some people take their mothers to garden centres, I drag my mum around the country and Europe to watch Arsenal. 

"We'll do another afternoon tea for the trip up to Newcastle in a few weeks. We've been everywhere on the coaches. One of the longest to Vienna back in the 1990s, it took three days, no stopping, no hotels. It's all part of the experience."

The pair were at one of the biggest nights in our history, a very special win at Anfield in 1989. 

"That was one of our first coach journeys to a match because it was on a bank holiday and the trains weren't running. 

"We actually didn't see Micky Thomas' winning goal as everyone piled forward, but the place erupted; it was a special moment. Any time i see it replayed in the montage before matches at Emirates Stadium, I think about mum and I being at that match."

From Kyiv to Sunderland, these two have been clocking up the miles, showing their love and support for our stars.

"What makes it special is spending time with my mum. This is when we have our time together and we love going to watch Arsenal wherever that may be."

THOMAS

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"I remember my first away match. We got the coach to Old Trafford and we lost 2-1. I got the tickets last minute because of a cancellation."

Who knew that 17 years ago, when Tom managed to get last-minute tickets to Manchester United v Arsenal, that he would still be going to this day, rarely missing an away day.

Picking up the coach from Emirates Stadium to all corners of the land, the lifelong Gunner said that without the support of the bus travel, going to away games just would not be possible.

"When I say it's a way of life, it really is. I'm in a wheelchair, and the coach service provided means I have access to go to games where it might not have been possible before. 

"I've become good friends with everyone who goes on those coaches. You become close with them because you go everywhere together. We usually reminisce on old matches, try to guess old line-ups and goalscorers; it's a close-knit group of people that wouldn't exist without Arsenal."

Tom, born in July 1989, goes to matches with his dad and was named after Michael Thomas, who scored the winning goal at Anfield just two months before Tom was born.

When it comes to his favourite match, a 12-goal thriller against Reading is something he'll never forget.

"It was one of the most unreal games ever! To be 4-0 down and come back and then win 7-5, I've never seen anything like it. The European games are always special too, seeing new cities and amazing stadiums."

LINDA

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For passionate supporter Linda, only one person inspired her to start watching Arsenal across England and the continent.

"My mother Rose was the main reason I started going," Linda explains. "She went until she was 92, and it was only COVID that stopped her! 

"We played Manchester City away and it was her 90th birthday. To celebrate we decorated the whole coach, which shows you how well loved she was by everyone. The club provided a shirt with her name on the back - it was an amazing gesture and very unexpected!"

Linda's red hair can be spotted in many grounds, and there's something about an away day that keeps Linda coming back for more.

"I love the away ends - it's us against them. I was at White Hart Lane the day we won the league in 2004 - that has to be one of my favourite away days.

"Nothing can replace the atmosphere on the coaches that we have. We all have a WhatsApp group together as well. Honestly, it's just brilliant. Everyone looks out for everyone, and you see a lot of the same people, it's a real family atmosphere."

ELAINE

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Family means everything to Elaine - especially her Arsenal family.

A frequent traveller with her son on trips in England and beyond, the coach to away days goes beyond just a football match.

"We never miss an away day," Elaine, 62, said. "We're just like a family. Everybody knows everybody and everyone helps everyone out, everyone shares food even.

"Everything about the coach, we just love. Last year I lost my husband, and everybody on the coach just helped us along. This year, my other friend on the coach, he lost his wife, and now we are all there for each other. We love the coach, we do every week in week out, we have our own seats on the coach and i've made lifelong friends here because of it."

The pair got a 30-hour coach to watch us play in the Champions League final in Budapest, and it's not the first time they've ventured into the continent to see us play.

"The best trip was Real Madrid, no question. The atmosphere that night in the away was unbelievable. The build-up after the first leg and the celebrations afterwards, from start to finish it was amazing."

Elaine ventured to the northwest to watch our defeat to Fleetwood. While the result was disappointing, the camaraderie of the coach's home pick-up picked up her spirits.

"If we lose a game, people are probably down for 10-15 minutes, but we're all there for each other and we all get over it together. 

"Everyone looks out for everyone. Some of the amazing people that I've met have only happened because of football and getting on these coaches. We're a family now."

Watch the video above now to get a flavour of what an away day is like for our Gunners.

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