“Another unforgettable evening.” That was the promise ahead of the Champions League semi-final, with the promise of a huge tifo and a new crowd surfer, all driving an “electric atmosphere”.
It didn’t quite turn out that way, and there’ s been a fair bit of criticism of the club for the way it was trying to energise the crowd pre-match. The club has even admitted things didn’t turn out the way it’d hoped.
But rather than turning on the club, we as a supporters’ group have been behind the work everyone inside has been doing to try and improve the matchday experience. Some months back, it was recognised that when the crowd got behind the team right from the off, the players seemed to respond and perform brilliantly. And when there was a flat atmosphere, the opposite occurred. More than once, silence from the terraces coincided with conceding an early goal. As a result,there has been a concerted effort by the club to find out what it is that will get supporters motivated from the start and then to help create that atmosphere.
There have been discussions over music played and pre-match displays, and we’ve seen ideas like the synchronised mobile phone lights, red and white bags to hold up, the plea by Nigel to make noise and, of course, promoting the singing of The Angel.
Getting people to take their seats before the kick off has been another ambition and challenge, with some of the activities like the light shows an attempt to draw people from the bars or arriving late and into their seats. The theatre-style time warning in the bars is another feature of this.
To some extent, all the initiatives have been working. So what went awry against PSG?
The club acknowledges that they’d oversold the big tifo and it was a bit of a let down, and the fact it wouldn’t unfurl initially probably didn’t help. But, in our view, a big issue is that it was still daylight. Fireworks, light shows and other tricks work best in the dark. It was still light against PSG and so it was always going to look a bit contrived. And then there was the minute’s silence to respect the death of the Pope. Much of what had gone on before was lost. Did that contribute to the hesitant start and the early goal conceded? Who knows?
But the club will persist in looking for ways to contribute to atmosphere ahead of next season. And we’ll be working with them and supporting them.
PS – we already asked our members what they’d suggest to help improve the pre-match atmosphere, and draw people into their seats in a survey we conducted with our members a few months ago (The full results are on our members’ pages.) Comments includes, “Less extremely loud bad quality sound system. I literally can’t hear the person standing beside me,” (something we are already in discussions with the club about) and “better pre-match entertainment”. We’ll probably need to be a bit more specific than that but what do you think? Do you have any ideas we can share with the club? Please let us know below or at [email protected]
Message left on aisa.org
I am a lifelong supporter of Arsenal Football club like thousands across the country and the world. I have been fortunate to attend Arsenal matches now and again this season and in seasons gone by. Like yourselves I love Arsenal, supporting Arsenal is like a marriage, through good times and bad I will always be faithful. I want the club to be lifting the major honours with style as this is the standard that has been set by over a century ago. As a fan that has gone to games, I have often been left despondent by the atmosphere inside the Emirates. Unlike Wimbledon or a day out at a West End theatre, football is a tribal sport where home advantage is the small margins that the players feed off to deliver. Arteta has referred to this in many press conferences. This is the first time in the Emirates era where Arsenal is on par on the pitch with Europe’s elite clubs. Many of our players would make the starting line up of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. The playing quality has grown to this level; however the supporters has not matched this consistently enough in the stadium. Arsenal is approaching a golden era that cannot be wasted. I am an in my mid to late 20s, Newer generations of fans were not born or too young during the clubs’ last golden era – the Invincibles. This season in particular in trophy defining games, the atmosphere in the stadium has not boosted the players on the pitch. How can it be that the players are waiving their arms at the fans to create noise in a Champions Leagues semi-final. Rather, too often, the Emirates has turned into a home venue for the away club. A St James’ Park, an Old Trafford, a Parc de Princess for the away team. An away leg for the Arsenal Players. Newcastle in the Carabao Cup Manchester United in the FA Cup PSG at home in the Champions League Coming to the Emirates with the history, the pedigree and status of Arsenal should be a mental hurdle for the away team. However, it has been too comfortable them to play their football and impose themselves on OUR pitch, in OUR stadium. As fans it is OUR responsibility to create an atmosphere regardless of whether we are underdogs against Real Madrid or favourites against PSG or Newcastle. I believe it should be everyone’s best interest and especially the club to do more to create that special home advantage that match effort this talented team is making each week to compete for the biggest majors. I have a few suggestions on ways to create that home advantage our home lacks for review. An organised singing section for the Emirates stadium, a non-faction group tied to the club. An allocated singing section with standing seating in the lower tier across multiple blocks. This allocation would be set aside by the club with an exclusive club membership access for those willing stand and make noise in the stadium for 90minutes. An online membership platform for members to purchase clothing/ scarves unique to the membership. This would create a visual distinction in the stadium adding more colour and vibrancy. The platform would provide communications on rules, laws, membership terms and conditions. Chants can be uploaded by organisers to the platform so singing section members are ready for the chants started by the conductors. Singing section with repetitive chants that can last durations without dying on a whimper and can be picked up by fans throughout the ground. When the Allez, Allez chant picks up, it really travels across the Emirates Stadium. More chants is needed. Competent and designated drummers, in the section, that can maintain a flow and energy across 90minutes as we see in European grounds. Amplified drums that can harness a rhythm that transcends, not only the singing section, but also to fans throughout the stadium. Conductors with loudspeakers to lead chants and enforce consistent energy in the singing section across the 90minutes so that there are no dull moments during the game. Countless times watching home games it is in these dull moments where the opposition and their fans gain momentum and change the course of games. Budget allocation prior to start of season for stadium wide tifos for seven games in the season. – Two Champions League – Three Premier League – One Fa Cup – One League Cup Regular meetings with club representatives to discuss atmosphere improvements, to propose banner and tifo designs prior to specific matches Collaborations with all atmosphere stakeholders at the Emirates including the Ashburton Army. Could these ideas be put forward by yourselves to club please. As an Arsenal fan I would love to see our Emirates Stadium as fortress for every game. Kind Regards, Daniel