Best places to watch Arsenal games near the Emirates Stadium

Everyone wants to be apart of the Arsenal these days don't they? Following Bournemouth's 1-1 draw with Manchester City that crowned the Gunners champions, over 200,00 supporters congregated outside the stadium for an impromptu party of a lifetime. In the weeks that followed, the streets of Islington were jam-packed for trophy presentation day at Selhurst, before around 2 million people attended the champions parade.

This all underlines just how massive a club Arsenal really are. Thus, as anyone who has attempted to buy tickets in recent years is fully aware, unless you are lucky enough to be a Season Ticket Holder, getting into the stadium is nigh on impossible.

Nevertheless, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy the Arsenal atmosphere on a matchday or, if you do have a ticket, ways to make the day a full occasion. So, we have picked out some of the best places to watch a game near the stadium.

Best pubs to watch Arsenal games near Emirates Stadium

The Tollington Arms

115 Hornsey Road N7 6DN.
Distance from Emirates Stadium: 7 minute walk - 0.3 miles

If you're planning on attending the Tollington on a matchday, we advice getting there nice and early, because it will be busy. Located on Hornsey Road, just the other side of Northbanksy Tunnel, the Tollington is the official unofficial home pub for the club, regularly hosting high-profile events such as book signings. Boasting eight gigantic plasma screen TVs, you're not going to find much better atmosphere near the stadium.

The Gunners Pub

204 Blackstock Road. N5 1EN
Distance from Emirates Stadium: 16 minute walk - 0.6 miles

Elsewhere, the Gunners Pub is always jam-packed full of fellow Arsenal fans on a matchday, so we highly recommend stopping by. Boasting screens both inside and out in their beer garden, this venue is particularly recommended on a sunny day, before, during or indeed after a match.

The Twelve Pins

263 Seven Sisters Road. N4 2DE
Distance from Emirates Stadium: 17 minute walk - 0.7 miles

Well located across the road from Finsbury Park station, if you're looking for a hardcore Arsenal pub expirence, the Twelve Pins might be right for you. Described as an "old school London boozer", it too has numerous large TVs alongside an outdoor seating area and, as it is an Irish bar, might be ideal for those out there whose drink of choice is a Guinness.

Brewhouse & Kitchen - Highbury

2A Corsica Street. N5 1JJ
Distance from Emirates Stadium: 17 minute walk - 0.8 miles

Another well-located pub is the Brewhouse & Kitchen, right next to Highbury & Islington Station. This establishment boasts a "full working microbrewery", brewing their own craft beers fresh on-site, as well as serving specialist burgers and roasts on Sundays. As well as their large outdoor area, there are numerous TVs inside to watch earlier kick offs or indeed the Arsenal match itself.

The Drayton Park Arms

66 Drayton Park, London N5 1ND
Distance from Emirates Stadium: 3 minute walk - 0.1 miles

The Drayton Park Arms could hardly be any closer to Emirates Stadium, located at the end of the Danny Fiszman Bridge, just by the gigantic letters that spell out ARSENAL. Given its locale, for many years it was the designated away pub, but this was scrapped a few years ago, now very much for Gooners only. To celebrate the Premier League title success, the pub has undergone major Arsenalication, and is the perfect place to pop in for a quick pint and watch the early kick off before heading into the ground.

Islington Sports Bar & Grill

274 Holloway Road, N7 6NE
Distance from Emirates Stadium: 7 minute walk - 0.3 miles

Lastly, if you're looking for somewhere to eat, drink and watch football on an Arsenal matchday, Islington Sports Bar & Grill has got you covered. Boasting 11 TVs in total, they have an extensive food and drinks menu, including an Arsenal themed list of specials, only available on matchday. Easily found on Holloway Road, this is a solid pub choice.

What to expect on Arsenal matchdays

To state something obvious, Emirates Stadium and the surrounding areas will be busy on matchdays. Fans will be required to queue to access local tube stations after matches, while pubs may be able to offer standing room only, while others may turn you away, if they are full to capacity.

A lot depends on kick off time and opposition. If it is a North London derby, for example, the atmosphere is far more intense than, for example, a game against Hull. Pubs will be busy, irroespctive of kick off times, but will be even more so if it is, say, a 5:30 kick off on a Saturday, rather than a lunchtime kick off.

Many pubs will be strictly Arsenal fans only so, if you are a visiting supporter overtly wearing colours, this may prevent you from entering most establishment. Also, some pubs, such as the Brewhouse & Kitchen, will require you to present a match ticket after full time to avoid over crowding.

Tips for choosing where to watch Arsenal near the Emirates

The two major pieces of advice are plan ahead and arrive early. If you are after food, check online menus and pick the right place for your budget as well as dietary needs and requirements.

Pubs get more and more busy closer to the match itself so, if you are after a table, they will fill up quickly. If you're planning to watch the match in a nearby pub because you don't have a ticket, many pubs will empty in the half an hour before kick off, as others head to the stadium, albeit many do stay behind.

The other warning would be if it is a rare 3 o'clock kick off on a Saturday. Those are legally not broadcast in the UK, meaning many nearby establishments will not be showing these matches, albeit one or two may do so via nefarious means.

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