Posted on by Adam Perry

The roar of football fans returned to Emirates Stadium for the first time since March as Arsenal beat Rapid Vienna 4-1 on Thursday night.

Almost 2,000 home fans gathered at the Emirates, chanting and cheering as they reunited after ten months away, following the government’s guidance on the return of fans to sports venues. 

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal manager, was pleased to welcome back fans, saying: “[It was] very special and I am delighted to have them back. We had 2,000 but it looked like many more…it makes a huge difference to feel that support and energy.”

(Credit: Adam Perry)

There was an excitement around the stadium before the game with fans embracing each other and chanting.

Arman Soldin, journalist for CANAL+, was glad to see fans return, saying: “It is very weird, usually I cover the Premier League every weekend, I have never seen a stadium with only 2,000 people. It is very exciting. Football is about the heat of the people around you, the noise they make, and this makes you feel things.” 

An Arsenal steward on duty said: “It is important [in order to] launch football again. The fans are ecstatic, they have been waiting for such a long time. It is good for morale in sports.”

 

 

The impact of fans in the stadium also made a difference to those watching at home, having been accustomed to fake crowd noise being played over games.

Lee Hurley, owner of the Daily Cannon, said: “I didn’t think there would be much impact, perhaps I got used to there being no fans, but the difference was huge. It felt more engaging, even while just watching at home, and almost like the game mattered more.”

 

 

Fans in attendance were made to fill out an online health questionnaire, a track-and-trace form and agree to the code of conduct laid out by the club prior to the match.

In compliance with government and UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) guidelines, there was a two-seat gap in the lower tier of the stadium and a one seat gap in the Club Level.

The extensive list of measures taken to ensure fans safety, given by the club, included: temperature checking at the gates, compulsory face coverings and a staggered exit procedure. 

More fans will be welcomed back over the weekend’s Premier League fixtures, breathing life back into the game that has been so badly affected by the pandemic.

(Top Image Credit: Adam Perry)