Arsenal's 3-1 Women's Super League victory against Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on Saturday set a new attendance record for the league.
Arsenal had announced in the run-up to the match that they had sold over 60,000 tickets and all hospitality packages – the first time the club had managed to achieve this feat in a WSL match.
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And during Saturday's game it was confirmed that the total attendance was 60,160 people. — surpassing the 59,042 who saw Arsenal beat Chelsea 4-1 in the league in December.
Arsenal scored three first-half goals to stay in the title race after Chelsea's 1-0 loss to Manchester City on Friday.
The visitors got off to a good start and looked dangerous in the opening exchanges, but their day was derailed in the 10th minute when Katie McCabe's corner at the near post was deflected into her own goal by Geyse.
Things went from bad to worse for the visitors when Katie Zelem's attempted clearance ended up being a perfect cross for Chloe Lacasse to double Arsenal's lead, and they went 3-0 up at half-time thanks to a Kim Little penalty. .
Although Lucía García scored a consolation goal in second-half stoppage time, a comeback was never on the cards for United as Arsenal recorded their tenth victory of the season.
60,160 💫
Emirates Stadium sold out for the first time in @BarclaysWSL history.
Another league record. Another historic moment.
Thanks Gooners ❤️ pic.twitter.com/kfnk65c6rM
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) February 17, 2024
It is the second time Arsenal have sold out the Emirates, following the Women's Champions League semi-final against Wolfsburg in May 2023, which was played in front of 60,063 fans.
Arsenal are playing six of their 11 home league games at Emirates Stadium, allowing for a considerable increase in attendance compared to their usual 4,500-capacity stadium at Meadow Park.
Arsenal now hold the WSL's five highest attendance records, with the following four: Arsenal 4-1 Chelsea (December 10, 2023: 59,042); Arsenal 0-1 Liverpool (October 1, 2023: 54,115); Arsenal 4-0 Tottenham (September 24, 2022: 47,367); Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea (January 15, 2023 – 46,881).
The club hopes to one day play all of its WSL matches at the Emirates and lead the charge for league matches to be played in larger stadiums across the division.
“The next step is to achieve this consistently, not just at the Emirates Stadium but across the league,” Arsenal chief executive Vinai Venkatesham said.
“We must continue to nurture this audience and achieve sustainable growth for all women's football.”
Speaking after the match, United manager Marc Skinner added: “In the wider context of women's football, it's fantastic and I hope it continues to grow.”
