Arsenal have safely re-opened Emirates Stadium Tour in line with guidance provided by the UK Government and Public Health England.

After being closed since mid-March, we have safely re-opened our Emirates Stadium Tour in line with guidance provided by the UK Government and Public Health England.

We have been working hard to implement new safety measures which ensure that the welfare of our guests is our top priority whilst still being able to go behind the scenes at Emirates Stadium. Standout areas of the Tour route that are open include the home dressing room, pitch side and the press conference room. 

SAFETY MEASURES

‘Safespace’ technology has been introduced to our self-guided audio devices which alerts you when you are too close to others outside of your party. This will help you keep a safe distance while allowing you to fully enjoy your Tour experience.

We will supply disposable headphones and touch free hand sanitiser stations have been implemented at key points along the Tour route. Emirates Stadium is regularly deep cleaned and disinfected, and we will continue to follow a strict cleaning regime throughout the Stadium Tour route.

Pre-booking online is available and advised, and all guests are asked to bring their own face covering. We are accepting online or card payments only for Stadium Tours and in The Armoury shop where you will also be able to shop safely for the latest 2020/21 season clothing ranges. The contactless limit has been increased to £45.

To find out how we will be keeping everyone safe during their visit, for the most up-to-date information including opening hours and to pre-book, visit www.arsenal.com/tours.

Source: Arsenal.com

Arteta - David Luiz has been phenomenal

Mikel Arteta never doubted David Luiz's powers of recovery - and they were on show at Wembley in our Emirates FA Cup semi-final win.

Our Brazilian defender's last encounter with Manchester City was short-lived and memorable for all the wrong reasons after an individual error that cost us a goal and a foul that earned City a penalty and himself a red card.

Fast forward a month and David Luiz was doing as much as anyone to keep City at bay at Wembley. It was a towering performance and Arteta was full of praise.

"This is part of football, you can go down but I didn't have any doubts about David's reaction," he said.

"He held his hands up after that [City] game and he didn't have to do that because we all make mistakes. The way he has been training and helping others has been phenomenal and I am delighted that people can now see this side of him as well and praise him because he deserves it.

"He has won everything in different countries so he brings that [experience] with him. Not only that but I want him to perform on the pitch and he is doing that again in a really good way and I'm really happy for him today.

"David doesn't need a lot of management," added Arteta. "What he needs is that we trust him and we don't doubt what he can do.

"The best way to do that is to make him play. He can say that throughout his career he has had some difficult moments and some incredible moments, but big athletes go through those moments and I'm happy that he's at the level he's playing now."

Source: Arsenal.com

PRESS CONFERENCE Arteta on Aubameyang's future and a huge win

Mikel Arteta was all smiles when he sat down for his virtual press conference after Saturday's fantastic win over Manchester City - and his old friend Pep Guardiola.

Our head coach was asked about a memorable week for the club, experiencing Wembley without fans, the post-match celebrations... and, as usual, the future of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

 

Read on for some of the key quotes:

 

on trusting the process...

Yes, we are really happy for what happened in the last four or five days, to beat probably the best two teams in Europe is not an easy thing to do. A lot of credit goes to the players for what they are doing and the performances and the level of fight and decision-making they are showing on the pitch.

on if the experience of Wembley is different without fans...

Yes, one of the best things about Wembley is the atmosphere before the game, during the game and all of the protocols that are in place on the day, but we didn't have them. Obviously we miss our fans a lot, we wanted to have a beautiful day with them but I'm sure they will have enjoyed that from home.

on the need to spend in the summer and whether winning the FA Cup could help with that…

Listen, we have had a lot of conversations and we always agreed with the plan that we have in place, and the current vision is very clear. It’s about the possibilities that we are going to have and at the moment we have some uncertainties. The way we finish the season, if we are in Europe or we win it [the FA Cup], it will obviously help because financially we will be stronger and that’s why we have to be a little bit patient.

on the celebrations in the dressing room…

They are so happy because we had a big task in front of us today against such a big team and we’ve done it, so they are really proud. The chemistry we are generating between them is fantastic and the way they are fighting for each other too. At the moment I have the feeling that I can play any of those players and they are going to respond and they are going to perform. We changed a few players from when we played on Wednesday and when we played today, and look at the way that they are performing.

on whether he would rather face Manchester United or Chelsea…

I’m going to watch the game tomorrow and use that game to get something out of it. I don’t know, it’s not our decision. We've done what we had to do today and now we need to prepare for the final against one of those opponents.

on whether nights like this will help convince Aubameyang to stay…

I think it will help everybody. These beautiful moments are always better than the bad ones and when I look at him and speak to him he sounds pretty convinced, but obviously if he can see the success and direction that we’re taking is the right one, I think he will be more positive about it, yes.

on Aubameyang’s tweet about his goalscoring record against big teams…

Yeah, but it’s like it with David [Luiz]. Big players [get criticised] more than any others and even when they do well, people are going to criticise you, but he showed today on the pitch. Not from talking, but on the pitch.

Source: Arsenal.com

INTERVIEW Tierney - We've got each other's back

Kieran Tierney says our win over Manchester City was possible because the players are all "in it together".

Our Scotland defender put in another colossal display as we saw off Pep Guardiola's side thanks to two goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and a stoic rearguard action.

"I'm very proud," Tierney told Arsenal Digital.

"It's a great result for us. We knew coming in here it was going to be a tough, tough game after a tough game a few days ago, but we've had two great results.

"We've taken confidence, it was a great defensive performance and Aubameyang was brilliant as always.

"It was very tough, we were playing against one of the world's best teams. It feels good knowing that we've all got each other's back, if you go then someone is covering. You're in it together.

"It's a good feeling in the squad now, it's positive and that's all you can ask for. We've been working on that since the first day [Mikel] came in and we're getting closer to where we want to be.

"I think you always need to believe, and coming into this game as well you had to believe we could win and we did that. We take confidence, we take belief and we'll keep building on it."

Tierney won the Scottish Cup twice with Celtic and is now set for his first appearance in England’s showpiece final.

"I'll be really looking forward to it," he said. "It's probably not sunk in yet to be honest but I'm just buzzing for every single one of the boys.

"Obviously I'm gutted that the fans couldn't be here. It would have been a great occasion for them today. This one was for the fans."

Source:Arsenal.com

INTERVIEW Arteta - We're generating some chemistry

Incredible. Proud. Thankful. The superlatives and emotions were flowing from Mikel Arteta after he masterminded our Emirates FA Cup semi-final victory over Manchester City.

Our head coach expressed his regret that our fans weren't at Wembley to share the moment, and he lavished praise on our players for their Herculean effort against Pep Guardiola's side, an effort that showed the chemistry and camaraderie that's being forged in the squad.

 

"I am really thankful to the players for the effort they are putting in, the performances they are putting in, the chemistry that they are generating," Arteta told Arsenal Digital.

 

"They are trying to play every week, every day. It doesn't matter, we have players with injections, players that were sick, but they're willing to play. At the moment I have a feeling that I can pick anybody that is ready to play and perform at that level.

 

"We made five or six changes the other day, we made the same again today and look at the level of all of the players.

 

"I'm so happy today. To beat [City] in a semi-final and to beat the best two teams in Europe probably in three or four days is something I am very proud of.

 

"I am sorry for the fans because we could've enjoyed a beautiful moment today with them. They are not here but I just want to tell them that we are thinking about them."

 

Arteta sprang a minor surprise by selecting Ainsley Maitland-Niles at left wing-back - but the decision paid dividends.

 

"Absolutely, [he was magnificent]," said our head coach. "And I was sure about that with the way he's training, the way he's changed his mentality and his mindset.

 

"He has everything, he has great qualities, I believe in him. I had to give him opportunities and today he took it with both arms. He had a really good performance.

 

"It feels incredible. I'm so proud today. To bring the club back into a final... we'll see who we will face but now we make sure we finish the league the way we should."

WHAT HAPPENED DURING ARSENAL VS MANCITY

A monumental team performance - and two goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - saw us overcome Manchester City to book our place in the Emirates FA Cup final.

Our captain missed a glorious chance when he was put through by David Luiz, but made amends a few minutes later with a brilliantly-executed half-volley to steer Nicolas Pepe's cross past Ederson and in off the post.

That was the conclusion of a move that comprised 18 passes and 10 of our players. A true collective effort in keeping with the overall display.

Aubameyang was ruthless again with his only clear chance of the second half, racing onto a fine through-ball from the outstanding Kieran Tierney to finish confidently.

Shkodran Mustafi went close for us with a powerful header that Ederson tipped over but, as expected, City had most of the ball and more of the opportunities.

They dominated the first 15 minutes and we needed a string of vital blocks and clearances to keep Pep Guardiola's side at bay - with Granit Xhaka, David Luiz and Tierney to the fore.

City posed even more questions in the second half with Kevin De Bruyne doing plenty of damage after moving from the centre of midfield to the right.

But chances were squandered by Raheem Sterling and David Silva, while Emi Martinez made a great save to deny Riyad Mahrez.

City threw everything at us, but Mikel Arteta's gameplan worked perfectly.

Our players followed his instructions to the letter and a combination of discipline, determination and clinical finishing gave Arteta a famous win over his former club.

Source: Arsenal.com