Arsenal have released a statement on Friday, updating fans on the latest news at the Emirates. 

"We hope you are staying safe and well during these ongoing challenging times. Our thoughts are with those who have been impacted and everyone who has lost loved ones.

Everyone at Arsenal continues to send our thanks and admiration to the health professionals and key workers who are selflessly working to keep us safe throughout this period. 

Since our last update, we have returned to Premier League action under the strict guidelines implemented by the UK Government, the Premier League, and medical experts.

Despite our return ending in a disappointing defeat against Manchester City, we are delighted to be back on the pitch. We are now fully focused on the opportunity to get back on track in our next match against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.

Black Lives Matter 

During our match at Manchester City on Wednesday, players and officials from both teams took the knee at the start of the game and as many of you will have seen, all player names are being replaced by Black Lives Matter on the back of shirts for the first 12 matches of the restarted 2019/20 season. A Black Lives Matter logo is also featuring on shirts for the remainder of the season, along with a badge thanking the NHS for their work during the COVID-19 crisis.  

The show of solidarity in Manchester followed the support from our players for the Black Lives Matter movement before our friendly against Brentford last Wednesday. Ahead of kick off the players and Mikel wore special t-shirts to deliver a powerful message to our diverse and global audience and beyond. 

Whilst the messages were driven by the players themselves, we stand right by their side in the fight against racism?and the league-wide support of Black Lives Matter. 

We know diversity is key to our future success and as a club we will continue to challenge each other?on how we can do better – we can always do better. 

Like many organisations and individuals, we are listening and learning to educate ourselves on the issues black people face in football and in society. We must all come together to understand each other better and take actions which will effect meaningful change. 

This starts at home and is driven internally by our Ethnic Diversity Advisory Group (EDAG). Born out of our Arsenal for Everyone initiative which we launched in 2008, EDAG is a?club-wide group that celebrates and promotes social, racial and ethnic diversity, both within and outside our organisation.?  

We will always stand with the black community and our diverse Arsenal family and we are clear there is no place for racism in society. Ever. 

UEFA Women's Champions League

Back in October 2019, Arsenal Women progressed to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Women’s Champions League with an emphatic 13-2 aggregate victory over Slavia Prague. After an extended break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has now been confirmed that all remaining matches in the 2019/20 competition will be played as an eight-team straight knock-out tournament at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao and the Anoeta Stadium in San Sebastian. 

The quarter-finals will be played on August 21 and 22, and the semi-finals on August 25 and 26 at 8pm CET. The final will take place in San Sebastian on August 30 at 8pm CET. The draw for the knock-out competition will be in Nyon on June 26.  

After the WSL season was recently curtailed, we look forward to seeing the team back in action in August. 

Your support

It goes without saying that it is simply not the same to play in an empty stadium without our fans present. However, the health and safety of all of us is the most important factor. We look forward to welcoming you back when it is safe to do so. 

In the meantime, we encourage you all to get behind the team in your usual passionate way, but please stay away from the stadium and watch the games from home.

Starting with our next home game against Norwich City on Wednesday, July 1, our stands will feature a display to bring Emirates Stadium to life in the absence of our fans.

the lower tier display which showcases our unique heritage and club colours, while also showing our gratitude and support for the NHS and the Black Lives Matter movement. Our lead partners Emirates, adidas and Visit Rwanda and our Betting Partner, VBET also feature.  

In the lead up to the next home match, we will also be working with fans to ensure your presence is felt at Emirates Stadium with a display of banners and flags at club level and in the upper tier and a virtual fan wall on our big screens that represents the very best of our global fanbase on. It won’t be the same as having you cheering us on in person, but we will do everything we can to ensure your support is felt by the team. We look forward to sharing the completed display with you soon."