- Arsenal look set to record their lowest-ever attendance at the Emirates Stadium
- Signs outside the ground claimed the match against BATE Borisov was sold out
- Arsenal were through to the round of 32 in the Europa League before kick-off
- The crowd of 44,064 for a Carabao Cup in September currently holds the record
Arsenal look set to record their lowest-ever attendance at the Emirates Stadium in Thursday’s Europa League tie against BATE Borisov, despite the club claiming it was a sell-out before kick-off.
Arsene Wenger’s side are safely through to the knockout stages of this season’s second-tier European competition, meaning the game is a dead rubber for the hosts.
As a result a number of empty seats could be seen throughout the Emirates but signs displayed outside the ground before kick-off insisted the contest was sold out.
Arsenal look set to record their lowest attendance at the Emirates against BATE Borisov
‘Have never seen the Emirates so empty for a first-team game,’ said Sportsmail’s Adam Shergold at the Emirates Stadium.
‘About half-full I’d estimate. But then this is a pretty tough sell, isn’t it? A dead rubber with qualification assured, live television coverage and folks tightening their belts with Christmas in mind.
‘There is a small but excitable band of BATE supporters over in the corner – it’s about 1,900km from Borisov to London.’
Those who have braved the cold London night have been rewarded with an early goal after Mathieu Debuchy pounced on a loose ball before firing across goal into the net after 11 minutes.
Empty seats can be seen throughout the stadium during Thursday’s Europa League game
Signs outside of the stadium before kick-off insisted the contest was sold out
While tonight’s official attendance is yet to be confirmed, the crowd of 44,064 that witnessed Arsenal’s win over Doncaster Rovers in the Carabao Cup back in September is the lowest-ever for a competitive first-team fixture at the Emirates Stadium.
The number of tickets sold for the third round tie came in less than the previous low of 46,539 for a League Cup match with Shrewsbury Town on September 20, 2011.
Those present at the Emirates against Doncaster suggested that although 44,064 tickets had officially been sold, the large sections of empty seats suggested the true attendance was even lower.
