Arsenal are set to make their long-awaited return to a full-capacity Emirates Stadium this Sunday when they take on Chelsea, and Nicolas Pepe has described the differences between empty stadiums.
It has been a long 17 months since the last time we could enjoy a full arena, when we took on West Ham in our final Premier League match before the pandemic halted the 19-20 campaign, but the return to having full stadiums will be a momentous occasion.
The team could certainly do with an extra push also, with our disappointing opening league match of the season against Brentford last Friday not having gone to plan, but with the crowd behind us on Sunday we should be able to put on a spectacle.
Pepe certainly insists that having the fans back will be like having a ’12th man’ on the pitch, and I urge my fellow supporters to get behind the team despite our struggles.
“Frankly, the difference with an empty stadium is that the match feels a bit dead. You can hear each other on the pitch but it’s the fans that really bring that 12th man. That’s what everyone misses,” he told Arsenal Media as published on the club’s website.
“To be honest I played in a lot of empty stadiums before I turned pro, so it didn’t surprise me that much – but there isn’t anything that’s better about playing in an empty stadium than a full one. For me an empty stadium doesn’t have any positives.
“I tried to play the same in an empty stadium as I do when there are fans, but for me when you hear the crowd sing – especially if they call your name – it’s really emotional.
“It shows you the fans really care about you and it makes you really feel part of the club. It pushes you and when you hear them singing your name, it gives you an extra push. It really makes you want to score a goal and return the favour.”
I’m sure those present at the Emirates will feel how important an occasion it will be and give the players the support they deserve, and it could well help make the difference to the result.
Patrick
I think tomorrow’s game will show where Arteta is as manager after the final whistle.
Fans won’t be as forgiving as they were watching it on the sofa last year if we lose .
Let’s hope he can pull of a win but the odds look stacked against us .
No offence but looking forward to the fans giving grief to our players 2 games in is not a supporter move regardless of personal opinion.
majority of those players will be there next manager. just saying.
@Angus
Please go through the post where I said That buddy .
Please don’t join the ranks on here where you don’t actually read what was posted .
I might be negative towards the team ATM ,but don’t ever accuse me
Of wanting something that I never said buddy .
i have to disagree about that tbh Dan
(I dont think the Chelsea game will show anything that we dont already know from matchday 1
We still wont have Partey, MO8 cant play till next week, we may or may not have wither or both of Auba and Laca.
3 out of those 4 would start Today and are big players.
And saying that in an unpredictable derby, where anything can happen, form goes out the window that thjs will show where MA is as a manager is rather shallow and short sighted imo Dan
Look, i think hes done and can go grab a coach back to mansh1ty tomorrow but lest see how he does over the next few months.
You know yourself that you cant judge him today in that way, lets see where we are by the end of November
Tickets still available at the official Emirates box office if anyone is interested. Unfortunately I cannot make it tomorrow.
Pepe really looked like he was kicking on at the end of last year, hope the crowd get behind him tomorrow.