Omo, for London now, e be like say Mikel Arteta don dey run mad small – in a good way sha. The Arsenal coach don reason one kind plan wey dey funny but e make sense if you think am well. Bros say the tunnel cover for Emirates Stadium gats comot, so that when opponent dey waka come pitch, the shout from Arsenal fans go enter their belle direct like pepper soup wey get too much ata rodo.
You know say for Emirates, the players dey pass one tunnel wey get cover wey be like small house before dem enter pitch. The thing dey fine, e dey posh, but according to Arteta, e dey do one bad thing – e dey muffle the noise wey Arsenal fans dey make. So instead of hearing “COYG!” (Come On You Gunners!) for full blast, the away team just dey hear am like distant generator sound – vmm vmm vmm.
Arteta no gree. The man talk say, “If our fans don use ticket money buy seat come scream for us, why I go allow one yeye plastic cover block the ginger?” The plan now na to remove the whole tunnel cover make the wahala sound hit opponent like slap. Imagine say you be Tottenham player and as you dey walk enter pitch, 60,000 Arsenal fans just dey roar like lion – your confidence go reduce small, your leg fit even shake.
E no end there o. Some Arsenal fans don already dey dream say if dem remove that tunnel cover, dem go carry megaphone come. Imagine say as Chelsea players dey pass, person for stands go shout: “Hey Sterling! Na wig you dey wear?!” Before the match even start, mind don already break.
You know Arteta, the guy no just dey coach ball, e dey find psychological warfare. Last season, e don already try different small-small things – from changing the lighting for dressing room to arranging chairs for meeting like say na military camp. Now, e wan add sound intimidation join.
Some rival fans don dey laugh say Arsenal don turn WWE. Person talk for Twitter say, “Next thing Arteta go bring trumpet band make dem blow as opponent dey enter pitch.” Another one reply, “If na Liverpool stadium, dem for don put big speaker near tunnel blast ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ until opponent ear begin ring.”
But make we reason am well – football no be just tactics for pitch. Mind games dey. If your opponent dey already feel small fear before ball even roll, you don already get advantage. Old Trafford back in the day dey do this well. Anfield too – when dem sing, players dey feel am for bone. So Arteta fit just dey try recreate that same “intimidation vibe” for Emirates.
Me I no go lie, I dey wait see the first big match after dem remove this tunnel cover. Imagine say na Arsenal vs Manchester City, and as Haaland dey waka enter, 60k Arsenal fans just dey boo and sing: “You only score tap-ins!” The guy fit still score sha, but e go sweet to watch.
One thing sure be say, Arsenal fans go love this plan. Dem go now feel like dem dey part of the team’s strategy – their noise no go waste again. And if Arsenal start to dey win more big matches for home, you go hear Arteta say na “fan energy” cause am.
Until then, make we just dey imagine the wahala. Because if this thing work, next season some clubs go start to copy am. Before you know, football go turn full concert.