IT’S SO KNEESY WITH A CROWD
Fans back at Emirates & they inspire Gunners in Europa rout
STRIKER Alexandre Lacazette slid on his knees towards the fans to celebrate in style.
It has been so long that you almost forgot what a real crowd sounded like – and it was just wonderful.
There were 2,000 lucky fans inside the Emirates but they made so much noise that it sounded like 10 times as many.
They sang their hearts out for 90 minutes. It was a special night for them but you could also see just how much the players have missed them.
Make no mistake, Lacazette was not the only one with a spring in his step.
Last night should serve as a reminder to football never to take supporters for granted again.
You can keep your artificial crowd noise. There is nothing like the real thing, real fans whipping up an atmosphere in a Premier League stadium for the first time in nine months.
The face masks, staggered entry, health forms and temperature checks all felt worth it on a night to give us hope that one day stadiums all over the country might be full again. There are so many gags about the Emirates being quiet but the 2,000 made it a special occasion.
It was all too easy for Arsenal against secondrate opposition but this was a reminder that fans can lift teams and change the mood. And, for Mikel Arteta, it was a night to savour after a disastrous November.
The first goal came after 10 minutes when Lacazette picked up a loose ball in midfield, strode forward and then unleashed a shot from at least 25 yards. It completely deceived Rapid Vienna keeper Richard Strebinger.
That was his first goal since September and his 20th in 43 Europa League games. That just shows what a little encouragement can do for a player who has been hopelessly out of form.
Arsenal got a second goal after 17 minutes when Reiss Nelson put over a corner and there was defender Pablo Mari to glance home. It confirmed his return to fitness after suffering an ankle injury on the first day of Project Restart.
Lacazette hit the post after 27 minutes and then Eddie Nketiah got a third after 44 minutes. Nelson teed him up with a lay-off and Nketiah saw his shot saved by Strebinger but followed up with a header into the net.
Rapid Vienna pulled one back after 47 minutes after Kelvin Arase twice had efforts blocked on the line by Sead Kolasinac before Koya Kitagawa forced the ball home. But any hopes of a Vienna fightback were soon killed off.
Arsenal got a fourth when sub Emile Smith Rowe tapped home Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ cross before fit-again Calum Chambers came on to a rousing reception from the fans on his first-team return after a long-term knee injury.
It’s now five wins out of five for Arsenal in Europe this term - how they could do with that kind of form against Spurs in the north London derby on Sunday.