Unfortunately it can be similar at Old Trafford. For big domestic and European games it's rocking, but when we play the West Broms and Stokes of this world, it can be a bit flat.
Its not as bad as it is made out to be. However the difference between games against Newcastle and Barcelona is staggering.
Could be to do with how high the prices are. It may be a stereotype, but I think clubs like Leeds attract a more working class crowd who get more passionate and excited, hence the atmosphere at Elland Road. With the cheapest tickets weighing in at around ã40, the most expensive at close to ã100, and the cheapest season ticket at around ã900, you're probably going to end up with lots of the more "orderly" supporters who are happy to cheer a goal, but more likely to go silent, or even boo players, when the team is struggling or when nothing's happening. As Jip has pointed out, we sometimes have the same problem at United, but it doesn't get as bad as often cos the ticket prices are only about half as much as Arsenal's.
Simples. The ticket prices are too high. High ticket prices attract the Sunday Times-reading, prawn sarnie bunch whio don't care about football - let alone Arsenal football Club - but just want all their middle class Audi-driving friends to know they've been to a "funny working class activity that is football" Been there, done it. I've been alongside enough of them in their comfy seats enough times. Don't even know the song/chants of the Mighty Arsenal. If only they had had the chance to stand on the North Bank then they would know what football is really all about..... Pip pip, Grumpy Old Git
We're too civilised! Half our stadium goers are business types... not like the brilliant Ipswich fans. Was on the train to the Emirates on the day of the ipswich game and they were great, singing REALLY RUDE songs about Norwich fans, and then getting really angry when the train didn't stop at holloway road.
it's also because those of us who sing are spread put throughout the ground, instead of just being bunched together. The sheer enormity of the ground won't help, as well.
I agree. When we built Emirates the club didn't think about the fact that people who used to sit (and stand) together would be split up. Coupled with the new corporate / fairweather fan. Diehards suddenly found themselves sitting next to someone who didn't want to sing, shout , swear. But instead wanted a more sanitised experience. The Red section was supposed to offer this alternative. But ask anyone in that section and they'll tell you that it's in the wrong part of the ground. It needs to be close to the away fans, to get the banter going. We do generate a great atmosphere for the big games, but too many games seem to be played in a staid environment - and fans leaving early before the final whistle really pisses me off. My solution would be to rip out the seats behind the goals and put terraces in there instead - Radical, i know and I doubt the club would entertain it.
We've always been known for the atmosphere created at the Lane, but even that is changing now. The Park Lane and the Shelf are notorious but I am seeing more and more 'journey fans' around me at games. It's probably the nature of the beast when we start to do well and achieve a bit of credibility but you can guarantee these types of fans weren't coming to games in the 90s when we were so dire! It's not just in the ground either, there are a flood of 'fans' on matchdays that just sit in the pubs for the atmos, wearing the shirts/scarves but not knowing one iota of our history! A lot of them seem to be skank fat birds who love the 'naughtiness' of it all and tend to ruin the whole matchday experience, so much so that we've sought alternative watering holes for our pre/post-match Bring back the good old days I say
PISKIESURFER Completely agree, I have wanted to introduce standing areas for a while now. It has worked in Germany and I think the health risk is amazingly overstated. I hate that fans leave early as well, why do it when you have spent all that money? Is the traffic that bad? Haven't they heard of a late goal? I was watching the barcelona match on TV and I couldn't believe it when I saw some fans leaving early!
