With the 34th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster tomorrow, the visit of Arsenal last weekend was the perfect example of how fans should treat one another.
Following on from the unsavoury chants from certain Manchester City and Chelsea fans in recent weeks and the seeming inability – or lack of desire – from the footballing authorities to do anything about it, the game between title-chasing Arsenal and Liverpool restored some faith in football fans.
Despite the game’s enormity for the travelling fans, both sets of supporters behaved impeccably, showing each other the kind of respect that the Premier League has severely lacked over recent years.
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Jurgen Klopp heaped praise on Arsenal’s travelling support, saying: “It was probably the most respectful minute’s silence I’ve ever witnessed last week.
“There was absolutely no noise, apart from a little baby, and it was absolutely fine – that you could even hear the baby showed how silent it was.
“It was really obvious how the Arsenal supporters in that moment, how that worked out, it was touching to be honest.”
Klopp’s sentiments were echoed by Liverpool West Derby MP Ian Byrne, who told the ECHO: “Arsenal really set the example when it comes to showing respect around Hillsborough and we hope that other clubs and other fans will follow their example.
“They were really classy and you could hear a pin drop during the silence. There was not one chant about Hillsborough during the match.”
It wasn’t just the fans showing respect either. Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard visited the Hillsborough memorial the day before the game, laying down wreaths and paying their respects to the 97.
The official Arsenal Twitter account tweeted: “Our thoughts are with our friends at Liverpool FC and all the families of the victims of the Hillsborough disaster – April 15, 1989.”
Arsenal boss Arteta was also seen wearing a ‘97’ badge before, during and after the game, featuring prominently in all his interviews and media obligations, a classy touch appreciated by fans.
It’s no surprise that the Arsenal boss showed such respect towards the city and the anniversary. He spent six years in the blue half of Merseyside and always speaks very highly of Liverpool and his time here whenever asked in interviews.
There is a history of respect between Arsenal and Liverpool fans, partially stemming from the North London club’s reaction to Hillsborough in 1989.
The Gunners were among the first clubs to defy the Football Association openly by refusing to play their games in the immediate aftermath of the disaster.
The club would also show their respects upon visiting Anfield in May of the same year, bringing flowers and wreaths to lay on the ground.
Still speaking in his press conference, Klopp gave his opinion on fan behaviour: “Football supporters can be a really mean group. If you find a weak point of somebody, then you just put your finger in it.
“A lot of groups and football supporters are guilty of that, not only in football but in sports in general – The more attention you give it more the more often they will do it.”
With tomorrow’s anniversary of the disaster, Klopp told the press how he was going to pay respect: “Tomorrow morning Hendo and I will go to Anfield and show our respect and it was not for one second a duty since I’m here.”
And with all the positive press and sentiment surrounding the interactions between both sets of supporters on Sunday, hopefully, other groups might realise that chanting about disasters isn’t just a bit of banter.
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