The Emirates Stadium is set to host what many are billing as its biggest Premier League fixture yet on Monday night, as Arsenal push to be crowned champions for the first time since leaving Highbury. While opponents Burnley were relegated almost a month ago and even returned 1,500 tickets for the trip to north London, the demand for the remaining seats has been unprecedented, with tickets reportedly selling for upwards of £650 last week.

This fervent atmosphere is no accident, but rather the culmination of a deliberate and deeply personal project by manager Mikel Arteta. Encouraged by the club to arrive two hours before kick-off to greet the team, Arsenal supporters are now a vital part of the matchday experience, a stark contrast to the mood Arteta observed just before taking the reins.

From empty seats to a packed house

Arteta, who joined Arsenal as a player from Everton in 2011, returned to the club as manager in December 2019, succeeding Unai Emery. His final match as an assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City provided a stark premonition of the task ahead. Arsenal trailed Manchester City 3-0 at half-time, and Arteta vividly recalls the scene:

“It was the first thing because a few days before I was appointed here, I was on the other bench with Man City and that image, that feeling of the stadium, the crowd … 50% of the stadium was empty. It really got into me. I said: ‘With this, there is no project. This is not going to work.’ Unfortunately it got worse very quickly when Covid hit. After that we had to rebuild everything. But when it’s harder at the beginning, then it’s better. So to see that transformation and that joy in the people, it’s something that is beautiful to watch.”

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This observation became a driving force for Arteta, who considers transforming the atmosphere at the Emirates one of his proudest achievements. His goal was to recreate the “red-hot atmosphere” reminiscent of Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final victory over Atlético Madrid, a period when the stadium’s energy was palpable.

Initiatives to engage the faithful

Arteta’s vision has led to several tangible changes aimed at enhancing fan engagement and connecting the team with its supporters:

• The removal of the cover from the players’ tunnel at the start of this season, allowing both sets of players to hear the crowd noise and promoting interaction with fans.

• No longer showing the second half of matches on screens on the concourse, encouraging fans to remain in their seats.

• The stadium announcer leaving a pause after a goalscorer’s first name, allowing the crowd to complete the chant.

These initiatives have fostered a renewed sense of unity, which Arteta believes directly impacts performance. Even after a defeat against Bournemouth last month, the unwavering support underscored the shift in mentality.

“When the stadium provides that level of energy, passion and optimism, they play every single action with the team. When we have the ball, when the opponent has the ball, in every element, they live the game like that. The value of that is just infinite. I think you cannot measure it and the team becomes different,” Arteta explained, highlighting the profound effect of a fully engaged fanbase.

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Future expansion plans

The success of Arteta’s efforts and Arsenal’s resurgence on the pitch have led to discussions about the future of the Emirates Stadium. With a current capacity of 60,704, According to The Guardian, Arsenal are exploring plans to expand the Emirates Stadium beyond 70,000 seats. The club is said to be in talks with Populous, the architecture firm that originally designed the stadium. Any significant redevelopment, however, could potentially require a temporary move to Wembley or another venue.

For now, the focus remains firmly on the present, as Arteta’s transformed Emirates Stadium prepares to play its part in Arsenal’s pursuit of Premier League glory.

Sources: www.theguardian.com

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