Nearly 1,600 AS Monaco supporters traveled to the United Kingdom to support their team against Arsenal in the Champions League this Wednesday evening (9 p.m.). The club from the principality travels to the Emirates Stadium to try to return to the top 8 after its disappointment against Benfica (2-3), a fortnight ago at the Louis-II stadium.
Often mocked for their low attendance rate at home, the Rouge et Blanc are nevertheless very regularly in numbers away from home. Last season, ASM was quite simply the third Ligue 1 club – behind Paris and Lens – with the most loyal traveling supporters, according to the final championship rankings from the LFP stands.
Fans from all over France
And this journey across the Channel will have been a real journey for some. Monaco supporters based in Île-de-France did not hesitate for a single second to travel by bus from the capital, with a crossing of the Channel by ferry. But the strength of the community of Monegasque supporters lies in its cosmopolitan aspect, because these thousand and a half fans actually came from all over France and all of Europe.
“Honestly, it took quite a long time because we left La Rochelle this morning. It’s my first time in England, so I’m very happy to come here and make this trip. We feel the fervor building before the meeting, that’s what we like about traveling. I can’t wait to get back into the stadium,” rejoices Kylian, who came from Charente-Maritime to support the club he loves.
No megaphone, no animation
After meeting in the St Pancras district, the Monegasques set off at around 5 p.m. (local time) towards the stadium, with a beautiful procession supervised by the police. The Red and Whites were able to be heard in the streets of the English capital for a little over an hour before arriving at the Emirates Stadium.
Although the meeting between Arsenal and Monaco does not appear to be subject to any security risk, the British authorities have still decided to apply restrictions. Thus, no megaphone and no entertainment (tifo, tarpaulins, etc.), with the exception of a drum, will be able to enter the London enclosure. “That won’t stop us from making some noise in this stadium tonight. There are 1,600 of us, there will be no contraindication on that,” maintains the La Rochelle supporter.
Received at the start of the season, PSG supporters had the same instructions, just like those of RC Lens last season. But that did not stop both camps from making noise, like the legendary song of the Northerners, “Les Corons”, powerfully sung as their team lost 6-0.
