Arsenal fans divided on new goal announcements

Arsenal tried out a new goal announcement at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, and fans are divided on whether it’s a positive change.

LONDON, ENGLAND: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrates with his teammates after scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Emirates Stadium on November 23, 2024. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images) — Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images

Arsenal fans at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday were treated to three goals for their team, which gave the stadium announcer a few chances to try something new.

In the past, if Bukayo Saka scored a goal, the announcer would say something along the lines of “goal scored by number seven, Bukayo Saka”. And that was it.

But on Saturday, the announcer said “goal scored by number seven, Bukayo…” and then let the crowd shout back “Saka”, repeating that twice more before starting Saka’s chant with a longer “Bu-kay-o”.

https://www.twitter.com/DailyAFC/status/1860648785136807978

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arsenal fc v nottingham forest fc premier league 6 — Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images

The stadium announcer did the same thing for the other two goalscorers, though without starting their chants. Arsenal fans on social media were divided about the change.

@Ayomide_24: “Gonna take time to get used to. Felt weird in the stadium tbh.”
@globalwaffles: “Sounded nice, but wasn’t a fan of getting chants started by the announcer. Very tinpot. Chants should start organically not egged by the announcer IMO”
@deanobaby89: “Was at the game yesterday and personally think it was brilliant”
@shnozzmoana: “It’s cringe. I was there. Don’t like it”
@stillselfish: “No idea why it’s not just the speaker screaming the player name and the crowd having to scream their surname, look at Napoli one every goal scored it’s hell on earth”
@HSBethell: “Think it took a lot of fans in the stadium by surprise…so, I’m not sure it worked yesterday. But, give it time and it may catch on and be more effective.”
@HellsGooner: “Being there, actually hated it. Not better than prior goal announcements”
@afcxzx: “Better than the previous style, I’ve been waiting for this type of announcements.”

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 23: David Raya of Arsenal celebrates after teammate Bukayo Saka (not pictured) scores their team's first goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Emirates Stadium on November 23, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) — Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

It remains to be seen whether the change in goal announcements is a long-term thing or a one-off trial.

Arsenal will now play away from home against Sporting CP and West Ham United anyway, so their next chance to score a goal at the Emirates Stadium will be against Manchester United on December 4th.