It wasn’t just the delay to the game that created several talking points.
When the action finally got started there were plenty of things that caught the eye, particularly the attire on display.
Sportsmail was on hand to pick out of five interesting things you might have missed from Arsenal’s 3-1 win over Cologne in their Europa League opener.
Sead Kolasinac on the wind up
Sead Kolasinac trolled the Cologne fans with a message on his shirt after scoring Arsenal’s equaliser.
The Bosnia international, who signed in the summer from Schalke, lifted his shirt up after scoring to reveal the word ‘Nordkurve’, which translates as ‘North Curve’ – the name of the Schalke ultras and the end containing the club’s most passionate fans.
There is no existing rivalry between the clubs, so it is unclear what prompted Kolasinac to mock the away side.
Peter Stoger tries to impersonate Arsene Wenger
Very much like Cologne’s fans, their manager Peter Stoger also snuck into the Emirates Stadium dressed like his Arsenal counterpart.
Looks like the crowd problems were just a decoy for him to break into Arsene Wenger’s wardrobe.
But Schwarz could not compete with Wenger’s hideous new coat.
In what was not quite his finest hour, was also, which can be said with even more confidence, not his finest look.
What is it with the 67-year-old and coats? He’s either battling them, looking for their pockets, or wearing the longest trench coat known to man.
But now Wenger seems to have a new favourite, and one that is very pink. Could this new look replace the trademark trench coat we have all become accustomed to?
Wenger wore a white shirt and red tie with a cardigan and jacket before changing into a coat
His Cologne counterpart, Peter Stoger, appeared to copycat him with his choice of clothing
But Stoger could not compete with the Arsenal manager’s brand new pink coat
Did the ball go out of play?
It certainly seemed that way.
Before Cologne took an unlikely lead in the first-half at the Emirates the ball appeared to have just gone over the line.
Arsenal did appeal but to their dismay the referee and officials ignored it and waved play on.
The ball was quickly punted forward before David Ospina came rushing out and made a hash of his clearance, which fell to Jhon Cordoba, who struck a long-ranged effort to open the scoring.
The many faces of Alexis Sanchez
We saw it all from Sanchez apart from a smile during Arsenal’s 3-1 victory over Cologne.
From a cowering expression at the start, to disbelief to a look of pure determination and pain.
Even after his goal the Chile international couldn’t crack a smile, the most he could muster was a look of relief as Arsenal came from behind to win.
Alexis Sanchez looks on concerned before Arsenal’s match against Cologne had even started
The Chile international looks fed up and distraught after Arsenal go 1-0 down to Cologne
Sanchez also appeared to be in pain after falling over by the advertising boards
But here’s a look we haven’t seen before, Sanchez pulls a determined face as he passes the ball
The fashion battle
Unsure his side would outshine Arsenal on the pitch, Cologne’s manager seemed very determined to win the fashion battle with Wenger.
Not only did he try to prove he could pull off a white shirt and red tie combo better than the Frenchman, but he also counteracted his elaborate choice of pink coat with some eccentric-looking red shoes.
Can’t decide who won this battle.
Stoger shows off his loud red shoes as he shakes hands with Per Metersacker after the game