%20rotate(-8.06)%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22336.19%20136.81%20330.16%2094.25%20326.06%2071.19%20326.44%2071.13%20335.22%2093.54%20352.29%20134.52%20373.95%20131.46%20362.7%2052.01%20350.02%2053.8%20356.05%2096.36%20360.15%20119.42%20359.77%20119.48%20350.99%2097.08%20333.91%2056.09%20312.25%2059.15%20323.51%20138.6%20336.19%20136.81%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22402.91%2059.3%20412.36%20126.02%20427.17%20123.92%20417.72%2057.21%20431.59%2055.24%20429.79%2042.51%20387.23%2048.53%20389.04%2061.27%20402.91%2059.3%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22463.51%20118.77%20458.69%2084.71%20474.68%2082.44%20479.51%20116.5%20494.36%20114.4%20483.11%2034.95%20468.26%2037.06%20472.96%2070.25%20456.96%2072.52%20452.26%2039.32%20437.4%2041.43%20448.65%20120.88%20463.51%20118.77%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22540.5%20107.87%20538.77%2095.68%20518.91%2098.49%20515.77%2076.29%20535.63%2073.47%20533.93%2061.5%20514.07%2064.32%20511.11%2043.42%20530.98%2040.61%20529.25%2028.42%20494.53%2033.34%20505.78%20112.78%20540.5%20107.87%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22299.03%20155.17%20301.29%20171.58%20542.78%20138.39%20540.5%20121.97%20299.03%20155.17%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
The Emirates Has Become Double-Edged Sword For Arsenal
By Josh Sippie
All big time football clubs need a big time stadium. From the Allianz Arena to Old Trafford, the top tier of football clubs in world football have stadiums that are just as top tier. Manchester United have become synonymous with their permanent home. It was opened in 1910 and after a series of renovations, expanded to house over 75,000 screaming banshees.
More from Pain in the Arsenal
- 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
- 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
- 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
- Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
- 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
Stamford Bridge has been Chelsea’s home since before the turn of the century. And I’m talking about the 20th century. Renovations have led to the grounds to be modernized. 40,000 fans can now come to watch the matches.
Arsenal went a different route. Embedded at Highbury throughout their incredibly successful history, starting in 1913, the Gunners did the un-English-powerhouse thing and moved. The new facility would be called the Emirates Stadium. It was a product of Arsene Wenger’s brain and the structure was as modern and beautiful as they come. Arsenal were now able to welcome over 60,000 supporters to their dinner table every weekend.
But since that time, Arsenal have notched a mere 2 FA Cups.
The Emirates has become, and essentially always has been, a double-edged sword for Arsenal. Obviously the trophies that Arsenal acquired at Highbury still count, but the Emirates has provided for very little success. Yet the financial gain has been monumental. With the highest ticket prices and very little money spent, Arsenal is a businessman’s dream come true.
But maybe a modern-day arena was not what Arsenal needed. Teams like Bayern Munich need that big time arena with big time prices to pay for every super star under the sun. Arsenal does not engage in that sort of activity. It feels like they build a new home for their business but are not using their expenditures to further their business any more.
So what was the point of the Emirates? If Arsenal want to build and earn like a big time club, they have to spend like one. Supporters are constantly going to be pointing to the money that this club makes. They are always going to see the Emirates as a dollar sign. In that regard, the Emirates is haunting Arsenal.
More from Arsenal News
- 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
- 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
- 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
- Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
- 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
Arsenal could have stayed at Highbury which hit a capacity just under 40,000. A few expansions and it could have been as big as the Emirates but with an actual beating heart. Now, Arsenal play in what feels like a cold, lifeless money pit. The structure is beautiful and the idea was great, but the product thus far has been severely questionable.
Curses in sports are not unheard of. Even if you are not superstitious, thinking that forces out there are working against you can play a toll on the psyche. Maybe Highbury has cursed Arsenal. Or at least Arsene Wenger. Alisher Usmanov thinks the Emirates took the best years out of Wenger.
One thing is certain. The Emirates has become a weak point of the Gunners this year. Arsenal are having immense difficulties playing at home. Some out there have said Arsenal’s typical ‘Arsenal tactics’ just do not work well at home. Others can point to Arsenal’s aggression on the road in contract to at home. But for a side as strong as Arsenal to be this weak at home is befuddling.
It may just be easier to call it a curse.
Next: Hector Bellerin Calming Arsenal Paranoia