Mikel Arteta: special to have 2,000 Arsenal fans back in the Emirates | Football news

Mikel Arteta praised the “special” return of 2,000 Arsenal fans for their Europa League win against Rapid Vienna, adding that the players felt a big difference.

It has been nine months since fans graced the Emirates stands, but after a recent lifting of England’s second national lockdown and the return to Level 2 restrictions in London, a small number of fans were allowed to return to the stadium. .

Despite a recent streak of poor form, especially in the Premier League, Arsenal fans enjoyed an excellent performance from their team, beating Rapid Vienna 4-1 and seeing the return of long-term injury absentees Pablo Mari and Calum Chambers.

Arteta said: “It was very special and [I’m] nice to have you [the fans] back. I think they made a great contribution.

“We had 2000, but it seemed like a lot more. They were very supportive with the team, they were very encouraging for the team and the guys here said that it makes a big difference to feel that encouragement and support from them.”

“Thank you very much to them for coming and supporting the team.

“This sport without fans is completely different. Players lose a bit of purpose and excitement. We are here to entertain and make fans enjoy. When they are able to convey that it goes directly to the players.

At one point, fans asked for a wave from Arteta, but the coach explained, “I was so focused on the game that I didn’t hear what they were saying. I really appreciate it. Honestly, it made a huge difference.”

Arsenal maintained their 100% record in the Europa League group stage with victory on Thursday, and Arteta was satisfied with the response after losing to Wolves on Sunday.

He said Arsenal.com: “It was a great reaction from the boys and from the kickoff we were active and very aggressive, with and without the ball.

“We were creative, we had a lot of moves, we had a purpose, we attacked the opponent’s area and created a lot of opportunities to score four goals. We could probably have scored more as well.

“This is great news [to see Pablo and Calum back] because those guys have been working really hard with the medical department. They spent many hours giving themselves the opportunity to play and act like they did today. We have two other really good characters with us and it’s very good news. “

Analysis: a much-needed step in the right direction

Oliver Yew, Sky Sports journalist in the Emirates:

“That feeling of the day is special for all football fans and we have missed each other since stadiums were closed due to the coronavirus pandemic in March.

“But for the 2,000 lucky Arsenal fans on Thursday night, it came back.

“On the way to the ground, you could see the famous red and white jersey in the restaurants and bars of Holloway Road. They were obviously not at full capacity, but the sight of fans returning from match day is a welcome boost to local area businesses.

“The streets around the field, normally bustling with activity on match day, were still relatively quiet. Roads moved freely and there seemed to be more people commuting home than heading to the stadium.

“The lobby outside the Arsenal Armory store, which also houses the box office, was quiet, while the large lobby inside the stadium, just outside the press area, was empty, but for some stewards.

“An hour before kick-off, the teams were read and there was hardly a whimper from the 50 people already on the ground. There was not even a clap for the returning Gunnersaurus, after their brief hiatus in the summer.

“It wasn’t until Arsenal showed up for their warm-up that the first real cheer of the night was heard. More and more fans had started taking available seats in the two open areas of the stadium, welcoming the players. Like they’ve never been far

When the teams were read again, each name was greeted with applause and cheers before the action finally began. The crowd let out another roar, which felt like a great sense of relief to everyone inside the stadium.

“At the beginning of the game, the fans went through the entire repertoire. Song after song was sung.

“And then the moment came that showed us exactly why we had missed the fans so much. Alexandre Lacazette hit the ball from 30 yards and the Emirates Stadium exploded. It had meaning in Lacazette’s celebration as he slid to his knees in front of the fans of Arsenal reciprocated that sentiment in a passion-filled moment, a moment that had been lost in soccer stadiums across the country.

“The party atmosphere continued as Pablo Mari and Eddie Nketiah extended Arsenal’s lead, but there was a quieter moment right after the break when Rapid Vienna responded through Kohya Kitagawa. Only an Arsenal loss was going to dampen the mood here. But the sudden pause was a reminder of the disappointment that comes with the joy of football.

“For a moment Emirates fell silent and the fear of what would come next was in the air. However, it was a feeling that did not last long: substitute Emile Smith-Rowe sent in the Arsenal fans, who stayed all time”. on his way to the final whistle, happy to score the Gunners’ fourth goal.

“For one man, the Arsenal players went to both sides of the field where the fans sat and applauded. It was a job well done on and off the field.

“It may not be the journey as we know it and love it, but it is a very necessary step in the right direction.”

Analysis: a good but strange experience

Chris Reidy, reporter for Sky Sports News in the Emirates:

“When taking the bus to the Emirates, I hardly saw any Arsenal fans, you wouldn’t even know it was match day. There were similar scenes in the stadium: it was practically empty, there were more media out for the spectacle of the first! game from lockdown!

“First, we had a normal check to enter, then a temperature check and an ID check. Then they asked us to disinfect our hands before entering. In general, it’s a very different way of going to football, a new experience basically and you can see why they have made it so small first, to make sure it’s simplified and done right.

“The entrance was quite agile. You can see that there are more commissars than in a normal day, they all come directly to a place to be able to guide you exactly where you should go. The entrance was not staggered, they only promoted social distancing and because it was Such a small crowd, you never felt that there were too many people or that you were close to someone.

“Right before kick-off, we had quite an emotional moment when the Arsenal team arrived and did a lap of honor to welcome them and thank them for staying with us during the lockdown. It was a really nice moment, they spent a little more time. than they normally would with the crowd. It felt like a welcome back, you could see what it meant to them because they came as a team so it was really nice.

“Inside the floor there was a lot of signage. The lower levels of the North Bank and East Stand were the only areas open to the public. Free lines were used to ensure that everyone was seated separated from each other by at least two or three seats. Seats that I couldn’t use had a sign on it and it was generally very clear where I had to go and what I could and couldn’t do.

“We had to wear a mask at all times. I can’t hide the fact that it was very strange, it was another one of the strange quirks of this football experience. Singing and cheering when wearing a mask definitely feels a bit strange, but to the people around me didn’t care.

“From the beginning, it felt like a reserve team or a preseason game, or a friendly. You can see why the players find it such a drastic change of scenery, from when there were 60,000 fans to today, the atmosphere it’s really creepy and different. Even though we had some really obvious moments of silence, people were still happy to be there and were constantly singing, but it will always be quite echoing and strange in a 60,000 seat stadium.

“Arsenal were attacking the fans in the second half, and that’s when everyone got more excited. I don’t think anyone was tempted to break the rules, everyone was good, a great effort was made to that nobody was wrong.

“I think it was a success in terms of social distancing and it was well managed in general. It was a very different experience, in such a big stadium you could see that there is room for more, but I know that Arsenal will always want to have more fans in a game. Such a big stadium and I hope that happens sooner rather than later. “