Arsenal women’s game against West Ham will go ahead with 1,000 supporters despite other test events being moved behind-closed-doors due to changing government advice.
Arsenal travel to West Ham for a 5.20pm kick-off on Saturday, 12 September. The game will be played at Dagenham’s Chigwell Construction Stadium and has been earmarked as a pilot game for getting fans back to football for some time.
However, it was only this week the UK government changed the advice around how many people were allowed inside a single dwelling and put in place other restrictions that aim to recapture the Covid horse that bolted so long ago you can barely see it’s arse in the distance.
A statement on West Ham’s website read: “The Hammers’ first home fixture of the season, after the summer move to Dagenham & Redbridge FC, has been selected as one of the pilot events to test the return of spectators to elite sporting fixtures.
“The club has continued to work in line with the latest Government guidance and has held ongoing discussions with the FA, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), Barking and Dagenham Council, Dagenham & Redbridge FC and the Safety Advisory Group, all of whom have given their full backing and support to continue with this match as a pilot event.
“The club has put robust and thorough plans in place as the safety and well-being of our supporters, players and staff remains the club’s absolute priority.
“Supporters are reminded that if you are currently required to quarantine under Government guidelines, show any symptoms of COVID-19 or are feeling unwell, you must not attend the match. Further guidelines can be found on the Government’s website.”
Tickets were only made available to West Ham season ticket holders and it is believed that some Arsenal fans purchased Hammers’ season tickets in order to be able to attend the game.
Further details, including a code of conduct and how to social distance within the stadium can be found here.
West Ham Women vs Arsenal Women
When? Saturday, 12 September 2020
Where? Dagenham’s Chigwell Construction Stadium
Kick-off time? 5.20pm (UK)
Where can I watch it? It will be shown live on BTSport1
Form: Arsenal go into their second FA WSL game top of the table on goal difference thanks to their 6-1 thrashing of Reading on Matchday 1.
West Ham are in 8th place after their opening day 1-1 draw at Tottenham.
West Ham Women and Arsenal Women transfer business
The women’s transfer window closed on Thursday.
Arsenal Women’s business:
In 5: Emma Mitchell (end of loan – Tottenham), Frances Stenson (end of loan – Blackburn), Viktoria Schnaderbeck*, Stephanie Catley (OL Reign), Malin Gut (Grasshopper Zurich), Lydia Williams (Melbourne City), Noelle Maritz (Wolfsburg), Lotte Wubben-Moy (UNC)
Out 5 :Ruby Grant (West Ham), Louise Quinn ( ACF Fiorentina), Pauline Peyraud-Magnin (Athletico Madrid), Katrin Veje ( FC Rosengard), Emma Mitchell ( Reading), Danielle Carter ( Reading), Melisa Filis ( London Bees), Silvana Flores (Chelsea)
West Ham Women’s business:
In 7: Kenza Dali*, Gilly Flaherty*, Adriana Leon*, Alisha Lehmann*, Cho So-Hyun*, Mackenzie Arnold ( Brisbane Roar), Mayumi Pacheco ( Reading), Katerina Svitkova (Slavia Praha), Hawa Cissokho ( Soyaux), Nor Mustafa ( Eskiltuna), Ruby Grant ( Arsenal), Emily Van Egmond ( Orlando Pride – loan), Mia Cruickshank ( Reading), Rachel Daly ( Houston Dash – loan)
Out 9: Katharina Banauch ( retirement), Anna Moorhouse (FC Girondins de Bordeaux), Tessel Middag (ACF Fiorentina), Esme De Graaf (Leicester), Vyan Sampson, Ruesha Littlejohn (Leicester), Olivia Smith ( London Bees), Julia Simic ( AC Milan), Filippa Wallen ( Apollon Limassol)
*extended contract