Other Pages
- Opinion Poll
- About Us
- Send Your Story
- Contact Us
- Newsletter
- Privacy Policy
- Terms and Conditions
Arsenal welcome fans back as the Gunners thrashed Rapid Vienna 4-1 at the Emirate Stadium to qualify for the final 32 of the Europa League
AllNews understands that for the first time in 270 days, fans were back inside a Premier League ground as Arsenal welcomed 2,000 supporters into the Emirates for Thursday's Europa League win over Rapid Vienna.
Arsenal's last home match with a crowd was back in March prior to a three-month stoppage of the sport due to the pandemic.
READ ALSO: COVID-19: FA Warns On 'Huge Impact' Of '6-Month No Fans' On Clubs In England
The sparse crowd in a 60 000 capacity stadium, were well-distanced between two stands and in high spirits even with Gunner's recent poor performance.
Our fans ? Emirates Stadium
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 3, 2020
?️ "It’s been such a long time, but they made a ???? contribution. There were 2000, but it looked like many more!"
"I'm delighted to have fans back they make a huge difference," said Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta.
"We had 2 000 but they were loud and they were supportive of the team so thanks to them for coming and making the effort."
Outside the ground fans held up a banner reading: "Home, at last, Thank you NHS" in tribute to those working on the front line battling coronavirus in the health service.
Since returning in June, top-flight football has been played behind closed doors with Arsenal fans missing out on seeing their side win the FA Cup and Community Shield at Wembley.
"It's been a long nine months since the last game," said Javed Singh. "I'm excited, it's a bit of a dead rubber game but good to be back in the stadium. Just great to see a game in person."
Despite Arsenal having already booked their place in the Europa League knockout stages, demand from fans to be one of the lucky few backs through the gates crashed the club website on Saturday morning.
"Football is all about you, the fans - we have missed you and we are so happy to be welcoming you back," said Arsenal skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on a video played before kick-off.
0 Comment(s)