On what some might call a divinely orchestrated day, I had what remains my most surreal experience at an Arsenal game.I can remember it as clear as daylight. It was 14 March 2019, and Arsenal were due to play French side Rennes in the Europa League round of 16. They would eventually win 3-0 to reach the quarter-finals.A chance encounter at the EmiratesI was standing with an old school and college friend among hundreds of fans in the concourse, waiting to go and sit down for the match.I couldn’t help but look at the Arsenal hat-trick heroes board, which showed every single hat-trick my great-grandad, 1930s Gunners legend Ted Drake, scored. Something inside me told me to tell the slightly older guy with ginger hair and black glasses next to me who my great-grandfather was.Well, by pure coincidence, he told me he was the great-nephew or great-great-nephew of Cliff Bastin, Arsenal’s all-time top goalscorer from the 1930s through to the late 1990s, when Ian Wright broke his record of 178 goals.I asked if he had ever met Cliff. He said he hadn’t, which was ironic considering I’d never met Ted either.My school friend looked stunned. What are the chances, eh? Out of 60,000 people, I was apparently speaking to someone with Arsenal in their DNA too!Well, that’s a moment I’ll never forget, for sure!Highbury 1935. (L-R): Wilf Copping, Cliff Bastin, Eddie Hapgood, Ted Drake, George Male. (Photo by J.A Hampton/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)Two families with Arsenal in their DNADrake set the English top-flight record for the most goals scored in a game when he hit seven away to Aston Villa on 14 December 1935. From his arrival in 1934 through to 1939, he was Arsenal’s top scorer every season, scoring 44 goals in the 1934/35 campaign, a tally no Arsenal striker has beaten.I was 16 at the time, and I told Cliff’s relative how much I respected what both players had achieved for the club and that I couldn’t believe the odds. I texted a family member moments later!During the 2022/23 season, while I was involved in the Emirates Stadium banner redesign project, I did meet the daughter and grandson of Eddie Hapgood, Arsenal’s 1930s captain and legendary defender. But that experience in the concourse was certainly more surreal in some ways!Liam HardingHave you ever had a chance encounter at an Arsenal match that’s stayed with you?Join the conversation in the comments below._____________________________________________________________________________________________ADMIN COMMENTSo here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us through this link…The post When Drake met Bastin: A chance family encounter at Arsenal appeared first on Just Arsenal News.