In my first post of this series, Following Arsenal Women: N5 and Beyond, I reflected on why I wanted to support Arsenal Women specifically by watching more of their matches live. While looking through the list of fixtures, I decided on West Ham Women v Arsenal Women.

You might think a home game would be the obvious choice, especially if crowds make me nervous. But with Arsenal Women playing all their home games this season at the Emirates Stadium, I opted for a fixture at a smaller venue. West Ham Women’s home ground, the Chigwell Construction Stadium, has a capacity of 6,078. Compare that to the Emirates Stadium with its capacity of 60,704. The Chigwell Construction Stadium felt like a gentler place to begin.

Pre-match day

The match was set for 12 September 2025. I bought my ticket just five days before the game, on 7 September, through Arsenal’s ticketing website. The process was simple, and availability seemed decent. The only option available was unreserved standing at the price of £10 for the ticket, and a £1.65 booking fee on top.

Caught up in excitement, I didn’t realise that the booking confirmation email wasn’t the ticket itself. That one’s on me as I skimmed past the small print saying tickets would follow in a separate email.

When it did arrive, the email with the ticket included a link to a QR code, which had to be downloaded to either the Apple Wallet or Google Wallet apps. Easy enough: scan, beep, in. It also contained a link to some match day guidance, including details on what kind of bags can be brought into the ground. The policy states that anything larger than A4-sized is not permitted, and, being the pedant I am (surely a habit left over from having trained and practised as a lawyer?), I spent far too long trying to work out exactly what counts as A4-sized.

Getting to the stadium

A follow-up email on 11 September confirmed a kick-off time of 19:30, with gates opening at 18:00. I aimed to arrive early to avoid crowds and find a decent spot.

Looking back, I now realise I was possibly on the verge of getting anxious even before I left home. I pulled out my Arsenal shirt, ready to don the red and white, then hesitated. What if wearing red on the Tube made me stand out? What if the home fans were aggressive? I left it behind.

When I exited Dagenham East Underground station and turned left, I began to slow down. My steps grew heavier as I saw more people heading to the match, both home and away fans alike. A block away from the stadium, I suddenly stopped. Hands on knees, struggling to breathe properly, I was hunched over and hyperventilating. I haven’t had a panic attack like that in years.

I considered turning back. But after a few minutes of breathing slowly, talking to myself internally, I managed to push forward.

Entering the grounds

In the stadium’s car park, I must have looked totally lost. A West Ham Supporter Liaison Officer came over unprompted and asked if I needed help. He could not have been kinder, showing me where to get a programme, and pointing out the correct entrance I needed to use.

Entry was straightforward. A staff member scanned my QR code, the turnstile clicked, and I was in. I did hesitate for a second at how narrow the turnstiles looked. Let’s just say I’ve not always had the best history with revolving doors.

Inside the stadium

A glowing sunset greeted me as I entered, and helped distract me from anxious thoughts. So did the cheeseburger I picked up from the food stand. The grease and soft bread were surprisingly grounding, although I did feel a bit bad about not making a better food choice.

Usually, I would only start watching a football match on TV at kick-off. But arriving early meant I caught Arsenal’s entire warm-up routine, something I’ve only glimpsed before in cutscenes while playing FIFA. Even when I ended up standing towards the back of the crowd, about five or six rows deep once the game got going, the cosiness of the stadium made it feel like a front row view all the same.

The behind-the-goal view was brilliant for close-range action, but I definitely struggled to properly catch the action at the other end of the pitch. I will have to make it a point to experiment with trying to get seats in different areas of a stadium to see what view I like the most.

The sounds, the chants, the stillness

Being in the crowd is completely different from watching on TV. Broadcasters show slick camera angles, sharp replays with clean and edited emotion. But in the stands, you are inside the reaction. The cheers, the jumping, the raised limbs, the moment.

When Arsenal’s opener turned out to be an own goal, there was nothing save for maybe gasps of surprise from the Arsenal supporters. A curious stillness took over the away end. But as the players returned to the centre circle for the match to restart, the fans soon found their voices again. With Arsenal winning 5-1 at full time, there were plenty of celebrations despite the early own goal.

I was especially curious about the chants, which many, if not all, of the Arsenal fans in attendance seem to know. Managing to catch a couple of them, I believe I heard: “Meado, Meado, Meado” chanted for Beth Mead, and “She’s coming for you, she’s coming for you, Stina Blackstenius she’s coming for you” for Stina Blackstenius. I will have to look these up as I am pretty sure there is some kind of repository for these chants as many people seemed so familiar with them. I am going to make it my mission to learn a few of them before the next match so that I can join in.

Managing the anxiety

Despite standing in an unreserved, general admission area, I did not feel as overwhelmed as I feared I would. But it was not entirely comfortable either. There were still moments where I just wanted to disappear.

Standing near an exit, knowing I wasn’t boxed in, and having the option to move gave me a small sense of control.

I do not think my worries have vanished, even now that I know what it is like to watch a women’s football game live. But I feel that there are things I can do which might help me manage my worries, like choosing an aisle seat when booking reserved tickets, or simply giving myself permission to step away if I need to.

Looking ahead

The view of the goalmouth action at the Chigwell Construction Stadium was brilliant, but it makes me wonder what will the Emirates Stadium feel like? In a much bigger ground, further from the pitch, will it still feel as intimate? As electrifying?

If the Emirates were to reach full capacity, over 60,000 fans, the energy could turn the experience into something deeply moving, even if it doesn’t offer that same close-up, front-row view.

Time to grab the latest kit and buy a ticket to watch another Arsenal Women game.