Football fans have mocked a subtle change made by Arsenal to the Emirates Stadium ahead of the new Premier League season, as the Gunners bid to end their wait for the title.
Mikel Arteta’s side have finished as runners-up for the past three seasons, leading to major investment in the squad this summer as they bid to take the final step.
The Gunners have brought in forward Viktor Gyokeres in a £64m move, with Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera and Kepa Arrizabalaga also arriving to bolster the squad.
Changes have also taken place at the Emirates, with the Gunners making a subtle alteration to the tunnel at the stadium in an apparent attempt to gain an edge.
Previous seasons have seen players emerged from the tunnel under a cover, before walking out onto the pitch before matches.
Fans have noted that the cover has been absent for their home pre-season matches against LaLiga sides Villareal and Athletic Club.
Arsenal have revealed a subtle change to the tunnel at the Emirates ahead of the season
The club have removed the tunnel covering in an apparent bid to help intimidate the opposition
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is claimed to have been behind the change to the tunnel
Reports have claimed Arteta requested the outer cover of the tunnel to be removed, with the suggestions noise from fans had been muffled inside.
It has been claimed the removal would lead to players being able to soak in the atmosphere as they emerge from the tunnel, with the possible benefit of intimidating their opponents.
Rival fans have been quick to hit out at the Arsenal boss, suggesting the move is another ‘gimmick’.
Fans noted Arteta’s previous for unconventional methods to boost the performance of his side.
This has included having his squad train to ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ ahead of a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool and hiring pickpockets to steal from his own players to teach his team to be alert at all times and having a dog at the club’s training ground called ‘Win’.
Arteta also showed his quirky approach during team talks in the past, once showing his squad a light bulb in a bid to create ‘energy’ and ‘electricity’, while the club’s photographer addressed the team before a North London derby against Tottenham.
‘Tunnel cover removed, dog at the training ground called win, speakers out at training to play other clubs anthems, taking a lightbulb out during a team talk and hiring a pickpocket to steal stuff from his players at pre season dinner. Footballs David Brent,’ a Liverpool fan responded to the Emirates change.
‘I’ve never seen any coach so obsessed with the most unimportant things. Win the damn dog, anfield soundtrack in training, pick pockets and so on,’ another wrote.
Football fans were split over the decision with some accusing Arteta of another ‘gimmick’
Arteta famously used a lightbulb during a team talk in an effort to motivate his Arsenal side
Arsenal coaching staff once played Liverpool’s iconic anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone through speakers during training ahead of the game
Some fans have defended the change and claim the new-look tunnel is ‘much cleaner’
‘All these just to finish 2nd again,’ a third fan wrote.
‘Just win trophies instead of this gymnastics gimmicks,’ another wrote.
Several Arsenal fans, however, expressed their approval of the change to the Emirates for aesthetic reasons.
‘I like this decision; this was the ugliest thing at Emirates,’ one said.
Another wrote: ‘This aint even a bad thing why’s he getting cooked. This looks soo much more cleaner.’
Arsenal will have to wait for their opening home match of the campaign as they begin away to Man United on Sunday, before welcoming Leeds on August 23.
