By David Awopetu
For the first time in 270 days, fans were back inside a Premier League ground as Arsenal welcomed 2,000 supporters into the Emirates for Thursday’s routine 4-1 Europa League win over Rapid Vienna.
The sparse crowd in a 60,000 capacity stadium, were well distanced between two stands and in high spirits despite the Gunners’ poor form of late in the English top-flight.
Outside the ground, fans held up a banner reading: “Home at last, Thank you NHS” in tribute to those working on the front line battling coronavirus in the health service.
Alexandre Lacazette gave those gathered at a social distance inside the cavernous stadium an early reward with a spectacular 25-yard drive after 10 minutes that swerved high beyond the reach of Rapid keepe Richard Strebinger.
Pablo Mari then glanced Reiss Nelson’s corner in off a post before Eddie Nketiah completed the first-half scoring a minute before the interval, heading in after his first effort had been saved by the besieged Strebinger.
Rapid, hopelessly inferior, scrambled a goal back through Kohya Kitigawa early in the second half but Arsenal were never in any danger and substitute Emile Smith-Rowe scored a simple fourth from Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ pass.
Arteta needed a win of any sort to stem some of the criticism that has been coming his way, especially after very poor performances in home losses to Aston Villa and Wolves, and this was impressive enough as his shadow squad took the opportunity to make a good impression.
The acid test will come at Spurs on Sunday, when Arsenal’s main players such as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will be in from the start against the current Premier League leaders.
But Arteta’s side required confidence and a win wherever they could take it, and this will have done very nicely after their recent struggles.
