Shameful scenes at Arsenal as thousands of ticketless German football fans fight with riot police and stewards inside and outside the stadium after a day of heavy drinking in the capital
Around 20,000 Cologne fans travelled for Europa League clash but only 3,000 supporters had tickets
Unruly fans kicked down barriers and fought with police officers outside Emirates Stadium prior to match
Angry Cologne supporters also fought riot police on terraces, inside 60,000 seater ground, in north London
Violent scenes forced authorities to delay tonight's kick-off by an hour, to 9.05pm, in 'interest of crowd safety'
Earlier, hundreds of Cologne fans marched through central London streets, while chanting and downing lager
An army of German football fans have fought with police after trying to storm into Arsenal's Emirates Stadium.
Around 20,000 FC Cologne supporters travelled to London for their club's Europa League clash tonight, but only 3,000 had tickets.
Mounted police tried to keep unruly crowds at bay, but video footage showed fans kicking down metal barriers and fighting with officers.
The authorities delayed kick off by an hour in the 'interest of crowd safety', with supporters temporarily stopped from entering the 60,000 seater ground.
However, witnesses said Cologne fans fought police on the terraces with shocking pictures showing groups of German supporters throwing themselves over stewards and goading police dog units.
Police arrested four people on suspicion of public order offences at the stadium, with additional officers drafted in to deal with the crowds.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: 'Officers are dealing with disorder at the Emirates Stadium where fans have gathered for the Arsenal vs FC Koln match. A policing plan is in place for the game. Additional officers have been deployed.’
Despite the trouble inside the stadium, the match did kick-off at the later time of 9.05pm.
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