KICK-off in the Europa League match between Arsenal and Cologne at the Emirates Stadium in London was delayed by an hour in the interests of “crowd safety”, the Premier League club announced.
Thousands of ticketless fans of the German club arrived at the Emirates, while travelling supporters who did have tickets were unable to gain access to the ground as police and stewards tried to ease the congestion in the surrounding streets.

Police forces block Cologne supporters outside the Emirates stadium
Police forces block Cologne supporters outside the Emirates stadiumSource:AP
A match scheduled to start at 8:05pm local time (1905 GMT) was pushed back to 9:05pm (2005 GMT) instead.
“The kick-off of #AFCvCOL has been delayed by an hour in the interests of crowd safety,” said a statement on Arsenal’s Twitter feed.
When the match eventually got under way, Cologne took an early lead courtesy of Jhon Cordoba. but the homeside rallied int he second half with some stunning attacking play to eventually win 3-1.
Goals from Sead Kolašinac, Alexis Sanchex and Héctor Bellerín sealed the deal for the homeside.

Arsenal fans said they did not feel secure inside the ground and were told by stewards to move to other areas as cologne supporters flooded in.
Adam Kenney, 24, from Market Harborough told the UK Telegraph: “We have been away because we felt unsafe, there are Cologne fans everywhere in there.
“I was told by a steward to go to the North Bank and find a seat.”
Another fan tweeted: “Sitting in family enclosure with my 10 and 12-year-olds surrounded by Cologne fans. Does not feel under control to me. Outrageous.”

FC Cologne's President Werner Spinner (2nd R) speaks to officials outside the stadium
FC Cologne's President Werner Spinner (2nd R) speaks to officials outside the stadiumSource:AFP
Earlier reports suggested as many as 20,000 Cologne fans had gathered in London just hours before kick-off despite only 3,000 tickets being made available to away supporters.
Posts on social media sites showed large numbers of Cologne fans singing and marching around Oxford Circus in central London.
Meanwhile Arsenal issued a statement on their website warning travelling fans they risked being kicked out of the ground if they bought tickets in the sections of the Emirates reserved for home supporters.

Police guard the stadium entrances as the kick off is delayed
Police guard the stadium entrances as the kick off is delayedSource:AFP

“Please note visiting supporters that purchase a ticket in the home end for this fixture are likely to be ejected from the stadium,” the statement said.
Cologne are currently bottom of the Bundesliga table, having lost all three of their opening games in this season’s German top flight.
But they qualified for the Europa League after finishing fifth last term. Cologne coach Peter Stoeger, asked on the eve of the Group H opener if he had a message for the thousands of travelling fans, replied: “Enjoy the pubs!”
Cologne football fans parade along Oxford Street