'The club listened to the fans'

We've been here before… the promise of a floor to ceiling tifo before a big game only to be disappointed, and subsequently (rightly) mocked. I didn't know what to expect when it was announced there would be another one.

But this time Arsenal got it right. As the players walked out, a tifo unfurled to paint the North Bank with iconic North London Derby celebrations, crowned by the image of Sol Campbell, arms held aloft: The perfect mix of mockery and glory: goading and adulation.

Obviously tifos don't win football games. But in contrast to the PSG tie - a potentially momentous peak of the season - which was hollowed out by a tone-deaf corporate red gun, more logo than tifo, and some help from a Dembele early goal - this was the measure of progress. The club listened to the fans. The tifo was the work of 1886 and Dan Evans, two sources of modern day Arsenal gear that is appropriately stylish and nostalgic. Together they produced an image that struck a genuine emotional cord.

Much of the pre-match atmosphere at the Emirates has been shaped by Arteta. The introduction of the slightly corny 'The Angel', sung in unison with scarves held aloft a la knock off 'You'll Never Walk Alone' has replaced lackadaisical choruses of "OooooOoooOoooh" to 'The Wonder of You'. The stadium announcer now plays call and response when goals go in. Without fans being allowed to bring in their own pyro, the club have assisted with fireworks before big matches, leaving behind the trademark haze of smoke that often characterises 'best atmosphere' compilations. We were treated to a lightshow before the Atletico Madrid game, which required logging in to the Arsenal official app, difficult without reliable signal in the ground.

It hasn't always worked. But you can see what the desire is: an extension of the hell-bent focus on generating marginal gains. This is an acknowledgement that the fans bring with them sporting power. It wouldn't be an overstatement to say that the atmosphere was electric on Sunday. The players played their part, but the stage was set beautifully by the club.

You can hear more from Scarlet at the Goal Difference podcast