October 4 – Arsenal Women have broken the Barclays Women’s Super League attendance record for the second season, as 54,115 fans entered the gates at the Emirates Stadium to watch the team’s league opener versus Liverpool on Sunday.
The Gunners broke their own record of 47,367 fans achieved in the North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur at the beginning of last season. On top of that, the Emirates Stadium welcomed more than 40,000 spectators on three different occasions in the previous season, the only WSL team to reach achieve those attendance levels.
Becoming the attendance champions of Women’s football, Arsenal also set a British attendance record in their Women’s Champions League semi-final tie against German club Wolfsburg last season, as more than 60,000 fans witnessed the second leg of the tie at the Emirates. The Gunners’ final hopes were lost at the death following a 119th-minute winner by Wolfsburg striker Pauline Bremer, who has since joined WSL team Brighton.
“I think it’s part of the club’s longer-term plans to move more and more games to Emirates Stadium and, of course, in order to do so, we need to have the interest there. So it’s great to see that we have that,” said Jonas Eidevall, Arsenal head coach.
“We want consistency. I think we are moving away from the idea that it’s a one-off to sell out the big stadium. What we want for the sustainability and the growth of the game is to have consistency in selling out big stadiums. That’s the next step for women’s football. That’s the next step for the WSL”.
He continued: “I think that’s part of the growth for us and the process we are in towards having two home grounds. As always, I try to see things in a positive way and I think we’ve had some brilliant nights and days at Meadow Park with the fans creating a great atmosphere there.
“So for us, we will always love that but our long-term goal is to play as many games as possible at Emirates Stadium.”
Arsenal will be hoping to remedy their opening day upset in a crucial match away at Manchester United, as new signing Alessia Russo prepares to face her former club for the first time as an Arsenal player.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1714906087labto1714906087ofdlr1714906087owedi1714906087sni@g1714906087niwe.1714906087yrrah1714906087