Long ridiculed for having a library-like atmosphere at its games, Arsenal listened to its fans, embraced a nascent ultra group and let its loudest supporters set the tone.
LONDON — On the night before the biggest game of Arsenal’s season so far, Jack Griffin slipped inside the Emirates Stadium to make sure everything was in place. He and a handful of friends had spent weeks drawing up their plans: raising money, contacting suppliers, brainstorming themes, designing images, cutting out stencils, spray-painting letters.
Now, late on a Friday night, there was just one job left to do. Griffin had to check that every seat in Block 25 of the stadium’s Clock End contained a flag, either red or white, for the culmination of the display.