Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Gareth Bicknell

Arsenal step up plans to bring fans back to Emirates when Premier League resumes

Arsenal are reportedly stepping plans to bring fans into the Emirates Stadium virtually when the Premier League season returns.

English football's top flight is due to resume on June 17 following its enforced hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic - although supporters won't be present.

Arsenal are set to be in action on that first day back, as Mikel Arteta's side are due to play their game in hand away to Manchester City.

The Gunners are due to play home games against Leicester, Norwich, Watford and Liverpool before the end of the season as they try to reignite their push for a European place next term.

But amid concerns a lack of atmosphere could affect performance, the club are looking into ways that fans can be beamed into the stadium via video, according to the Evening Standard.

Arsenal are looking into how to involve fans in the experience when the season resumes behind closed doors (Action Images via Reuters)

The publication reports that several Premier League clubs have contacted Danish club Aarhus after they created a 'Zoom wall' of supporters in their stadium.

The Danish Superliga was the second division in western Europe to resume following the coronavirus lockdown, after the German Bundesliga.

With matches having to be held behind closed doors, Aarhus arranged for a 40-metre screen to be constructed so that fans could be beamed into the stadium to give the players support.

The idea has now been used successfully twice - and third-placed Aarhus have claimed one of only two home wins from the games played so far since the division's resumption.

The Premier League has commissioned the Football Supporters' Association to canvass opinion from fans on how they feel they could be involved in the return of top-flight flight, quizzing them on issues such as canned crowed noise as well as representing the support inside empty grounds.

Arsenal will resume the season in ninth place - eight points behind fourth-placed Chelsea and five behind Manchester United, who are fifth.

Sign up to the Mirror Football email here for the latest news and transfer gossip.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.