Arsene Wenger announced that he will depart Arsenal at the end of this season after 22-years in charge of the North London club.
In what has been a relatively difficult time for Wenger, the club and the Arsenal fans, it was nonetheless thought that Wenger's impending departure would spark a renewed level of support this afternoon.
Taking on West Ham United in the Emirates Stadium, such promise quickly disappeared when the game kicked-off at 13.30.
Although there does appear to be a definite upturn in home support, many tweeting from the game couldn't but notice the empty seats that remained.
Lots of empty seats and no huge fanfare for Arsene Wenger. Life goes on.
— Phil McNulty (@philmcnulty) April 22, 2018
Staggered there are empty seats at the Emirates today.
— Adam Crafton (@AdamCrafton_) April 22, 2018
Surprising lack of fanfare (and fans) inside the Emirates. Arsene Wenger will be walking out to a half-empty stadium, which doesn't seem quite right...
— Mark Ogden (@MarkOgden_) April 22, 2018
Chants of "there's only one Arsene Wenger" being started in various pockets of the stadium. Quite a few empty seats too.
— James Olley (@JamesOlley) April 22, 2018
How is it that I'm seeing empty seats at the Emirates today?!! All of them should not be allowed to renew and give them to fans like me who have been on the waiting list for years!! #Arsenal #MerciArsène #ARSWHU @Arsenal
— Imran (@imran_ali92) April 22, 2018
How are there empty seats still at the Emirates today? We were told it was sold out
— Jamie (@JamieGooner44) April 22, 2018
Arsenal fans are shit. Look at all those empty seats man.
— Aaron Knox (@AaronATKnox) April 22, 2018
Still so many empty seats at the Emirates. And the @Arsenal website wouldn’t let me buy tickets.
Hope it’s not the same for the Burnley game which is apparently “sold out”— Alex Palmer (@AlexJPalmer_) April 22, 2018
Really can’t understand the empty seats at the Emirates
— Pierce Hughes (@PierceHughes18) April 22, 2018
Although the ground certainly has a higher capacity than was reached in a recent draw against Southampton, a quick look through the premium level seats does show plenty of empty red seats.
That being said, some Arsenal fans were suitably impressed with the numbers that turned up.
Can't tell when last the Emirates was this packed! #MerciArsène #OneArseneWenger #Arsenal
— Nekesha 🇯🇲🖤💛💚 (@thierryiverson) April 22, 2018
One fan who was in attendance (albeit amongst the traveling support) was West Ham's James Collins.
James Collins is in with the West Ham fans at the Emirates. 👏#ARSWHU live: https://t.co/mTvVUDR0lB#bbcfootball pic.twitter.com/KOd6viqJ8b
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) April 22, 2018
