HELLO, how’s your week been?

I love this time of year. Spring brings the promise of renewal, brighter evenings and — surely at some stage after an interminably dark, endless winter — the hope of warmer days.

For football fans and sportswriters alike, it also brings excitement, as we reach the business end of the season. 

Whether you’re invested in the top of the Premier League, or Step 5 of the non-league pyramid — and everything in between — the thrilling sense of striking out for accomplishments that will be remembered by future generations is palpable. 

While the endless possibilities of last August have been dashed for so many, for the lucky few to have stayed the course, to remain in contention to challenge for glory come May, is such a wondrous thing to experience. 

As a fan I’ve seen Arsenal win the league title five times in my lifetime, and the sense of joy and camaraderie upon witnessing every single one of them, will remain with me until my last breath. 

As a journalist I’ve covered Arsenal in Wembley cup finals, huge Champions League and Europa League matches and everything in between at all levels — but until now I’ve never been in the press box to cover the club chasing a league title so deep into a gruelling nine-month campaign. And do you know what? I love it. 

I love the sense of drama, the feeling that, in sporting terms at least, every single thing matters — every quote, every press conference, every training session, every match. It feels like you’re at the centre of the universe as a supporter or a scribe, because you also know the majority of the planet is utterly absorbed too, watching the race for the world’s most popular football league unfold in all its drama, twists and turns. 

I’m in the middle of a run of games at all levels that has given me a month-long shot of sporting adrenaline.

My diary has taken me from Ashburton Grove to Anfield, to the London Stadium. From cramped but evocative Kenilworth Road to Hitchin Town’s tree-lined, wooden terraced Top Field, to a late-night drive back from the north-west — from Leigh Sports Village to be precise — where Arsenal Women played Manchester United Women earlier this week, to a wet and windy New Roker Park where second hosted first in the Spartans South Midlands Football League when Stotfold hosted champions Leighton Town on Thursday.  

And that’s without factoring in covering Steve Evans’ League Two promotion contenders Stevenage, where I’ve been a regular in the Broadhall Way press box, and intend to make Barrow my 91st ground on my way to membership of the 92 Club when the Cumbrian Bluebirds host Evans side on Coronation weekend. I’d say a long drive to Lake District is a fair swap in my bid to avoid watching or experiencing a single minute of the King’s Coronation. 

Tomorrow, I’ll be covering the fascinating duel between Unai Emery’s emerging Aston Villa at Thomas Frank’s creditable Brentford, while on Sunday I’ll be reporting from Wembley at Brighton vs Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final.

Not forgetting to catch up with how Jonas Eidevall’s women’s side’s Champions League first leg semi-final in Germany against Wolfsburg pans out — even if, while ensconced at Wembley, I’ll be hoping to use the line: ‘And Solly Must Score,’ in homage to the Seagulls Gordon Smith in the 1983 FA Cup final.

As an aside, as a person of a certain vintage, I was not alone in watching every FA Cup final intently as a kid, mesmerised by the 1980s coverage of the Wembley showpiece, invariably broadcast on TV from 9am on the day of the contest, which for the decade prior to wall-to-wall sport plastered everywhere on television was utterly astounding, not to mention mesmerising — so I always remind myself how lucky I am doing what I love doing.   

Monday for me brings Luton Town vs Middlesbrough while Tuesday offers the FA Youth Cup final between Jack Wilshere’s Arsenal and West Ham. Before I head up to Manchester for the monumental clash between Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta. 

Which brings me to a point I’d like to address. 

This time of the year also brings out the idiot in a few. Not least those who get carried away by creating stories where there are none. 

For example, a few poor, misguided souls tried to stir the pot by criticising Arteta and his team for the way they supposedly treated a young Arsenal mascot at a game recently — with a few preposterous souls insisting the Gunners were “arrogant” in the way they signed the young girl’s shirt. 

The story was absolute and utter nonsense, which saw Arteta forced to defend his players in the wake of comments saying that the team were “entitled, overpaid and rude.”

They were nothing of the sort. As someone who sees how much good the club does through its Arsenal Foundation and Arsenal in the Community arms, both in deprived parts of north London and far beyond these shores, to see such arrant falsehoods is a slight that needs addressing. 

It was no wonder even the young mascot’s father said it was a non-story.

I’ve seen how much good the club and its players and management do in terms of helping people and communities, and would like to share first-hand experience of just how caring Arsenal can be. 

After my beloved Arsenal-supporting father died in early January, my family and myself were devastated. 

On January 25 my mother received the following letter from Arsenal boss Arteta, which was personally signed, underlining just how emotionally intelligent and humble the club and its staff really are. 

“Dear Elizabeth and family, it is with great sadness that we learned recently of the death of your beloved husband, on behalf of us all at Arsenal Football Club we extend our deepest condolences to you and your family. 

“Although I did not have the privilege of knowing your husband personally, I am aware that he was an Arsenal supporter throughout his life. 

“We hope that following Arsenal gave him some special moments and we are extremely grateful for his support.

“A number of my colleagues at the club know your son Layth well, and I’m aware that Layth has been working in the media covering Arsenal for many years now. Your family’s strong link with Arsenal therefore continues, and you should be very proud of Layth’s work in the football world. 

“I know this must be a terrible shock to you all, and that words mean so little at times such as these, but we wish you to know that our thoughts are with you and your loved ones at this very sad and difficult time. 

“With our very best wishes, 

Yours sincerely 

Mikel Arteta

Manager, Arsenal Football Club”

So, please don’t tell me Arsenal are entitled, overpaid and rude — because in light of the way they treated me and my family after the death of my dad, I find such comments grossly insulting, not to mention completely and utterly incorrect as to be virtually libellous. 

See you in Manchester for City vs Arsenal. If not at a game before then.