By Boris Mellor
May 6 2006

So here it is the final curtain, not so long ago it seemed as if the new stadium was in a far distant future that was forever being pushed back.

Every day stories appeared in the press, and on web sites claiming the stadium would never be built, that Arsenal would be bankrupted. Building was constantly delayed, on one occasion for nearly a year, as the directors struggled for funding. But now there is only 24 hours left at Highbury, it has all passed so quickly. There is even grass growing, and seats showing, at the Emirates.

Most Arsenal supporters were bemused when the fixture list came out at the start of the season, and they discovered it was Wigan who were to be the final opponents. I think some assumed that Wigan would go straight down, and would be a walkover opposition, that it would be a meaningless match. But Wigan are no pushover, and this is no meaningless match. At the end of the first ever season at Highbury 1913-14, Arsenals last game at home was Grimsby Town. Unlike Tottenham in the Cup, we beat them 2-0. Were you watching Tottenham?

For Arsenal need three points if they are to win fourth place, although West Ham will have a say in that too. Make no mistake the points are important, but even more important is that Arsenal give a great display on this great and emotional day. If Arsenal lose it will be a bit of a choker for the ceremony that marks the final curtain on Highbury. It will be a strange day, a mix of emotions, nostalgia at the thought of the end of an era, the ground, and Dennis Bergkamp. But minds will also be on what is happening in east London.

However Wigan have won only one of their last six fixtures, and Arsenal only lost one of their last six. Wigan have won more games away from home than Arsenal, but the Gunners have lost only two at home all season.

Bergkamp will be in the squad, and no doubt every Gooner, worldwide, would love to see him score a great goal tomorrow. Henry looks set to win the Golden Boot again, unless the man with the long face gets a hat trick against Charlton. Cole will almost certainly play as Flamini, and Clichy are carrying slight knocks and strains. Senderos is also still to recover.

The team will probably (provisional only) be Lehmann, Eboue, Toure, Campbell, Cole, Fabregas, Gilberto, Ljungberg, Reyes, Adebayor and Henry. Bergkamp and RvP are likely to be on the bench.

Henry will probably receive his Barclay Premiership Footballer of the Year award before the kick off, and Lehmann his Arsenal Footballer of the Month Award.

Don’t expect an early report here tomorrow, or a quick update of the predictions table, for I have a very big party to go to. Let’s hope we are celebrating more than the last ever game at Highbury.