Massive turnout for Arsenal parade as dozens require rescue from high places

The streets of north London were bathed in white and red on Sunday, ITV News Correspondent Ellie Pitt reports

Arsenal’s title parade attracted an extraordinary crowd of as many as one million people – as Mikel Arteta’s side put their European agony behind them to celebrate the club’s first Premier League win since 2004.

Early estimates have indicated that between 750,000 and one million euphoric Arsenal fans lined the 5.6-mile route, which started and finished at the Emirates Stadium.

Earlier predictions estimated that around half a million people would attend.

The Gunners fell short of winning the first Champions League title after a crushing penalty shootout defeat to Paris St Germain at the Puskas Arena in Budapest on Saturday evening.

Dozens needed rescuing from high places. / Credit: PA

But 18 hours and 15 minutes after Gabriel’s missed penalty denied Arsenal a night of history, captain Martin Odegaard emerged with the Premier League trophy to a ferocious atmosphere outside the club’s ground.

Odegaard was the first player to board one of three red buses – the others reserved for the players’ families and staff, and the women’s team celebrating the Champions Cup they won in February.

At 2.15pm, the parade got underway before winding its way through Islington across the next two hours in unprecedented scenes.

Fans line the 5.6-mile route. / Credit: PA

Some fans hung out of windows, on top of bus stops, others on roof terraces, as they attempted to catch a glimpse of their heroes with red smoke, from thousands of flares, polluting the north London sky.

Emergency services had to rescue about 75 people who were stuck high up on lamp posts and other positions which had viewpoint from which fans could see the parade bus.

Police also arrested 16 people, and a crime scene has been set up after a stabbing on Hornsey Road, the Met said.

Finsbury Park – the nearest National Rail station to the route – had to be closed because of overcrowding due to the remarkable number of fans flocking to the event.

On board the leading bus, Declan Rice rapped to ‘Ice Ice Baby’ – a song which has become synonymous with the England midfielder – before insisting that the Gunners are “coming back for more” next season.

He said: “I love this team, I love the manager. To see the joy we can give people, it’s crazy. But, next year we’re coming back for more. You heard it here first now. Lock in or get locked out.”

Arsenal fans sit on the roof of a bus stop as they await the arrival of a victory parade to celebrate their team. / Credit: PA

Members of the Arsenal staff followed on a second bus, while the women’s team were on a third bus, parading the FIFA Champions Cup they won in February.

Joe and Charlie Mudd both lined up in Arsenal shirts to watch the parade unfold in north London on Sunday.

Joe Mudd said: “It was a good season, bit of disappointment yesterday but if you’d have given us this and said you’ll win the Prem or the Champions League I’d take the Prem all day.”

“100%,” added Charlie.