THE PITCH at the Emirates has always been immaculate and the club has won several awards for having the best in the Premier League. But as we saw during Tuesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final with Chelsea, it is looking quite rough and there is not a lot of grass in the six-yard box and in a few other areas — but little wonder. You certainly have to feel for the club’s ground staff who are currently working overtime with a massive schedule.
Arsenal face Sunderland in the Premier League on Saturday which will be the 20th men’s home game of the season. But also this term, all of the club’s Women’s Super League matches are being staged at the Emirates Sunday’s WSL clash at home to Manchester City will be the women’s eighth clash at the stadium. But ridiculously, it will also be the FIFTH game to be staged at the Emirates in just eight days.
Arsenal became the first winners of the Fifa Women’s Champions Cup on Sunday with a 3-2 win over Corinthians after extra-time and that match was also played at the Emirates. It was also a double-header as the third place play-off was staged earlier in the afternoon. Also do not forget that there were friendlies against Villarreal and Athletic Bilbao staged at the stadium before the start of the season while Brazil also played Senegal there in November.
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So you can understand why there are concerns over the state of the pitch particularly as Mikel Arteta’s team continue to do so well in the cups. The club will do well to win any awards for their pitch this term as over 40 matches will have been played at the Emirates and in future, something might have to give. HALF-AND-HALF scarves are considered a sin by most football fans — but Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli can be forgiven for wearing them last weekend. The pair donned them while at the Emirates on Sunday to watch Arsenal beat Corinthians in the Fifa Women’s Champions Cup.
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