West Ham welcome Arsenal to the London Stadium next month in what has become a fiercer rivalry since Declan Rice’s move.
There has never traditionally been any huge rivalry between West Ham and Arsenal.
Declan Rice’s £105m move from the Hammers to the Gunners has changed that, though.
Particularly as West Ham fans have been relentlessly goaded by some of their Arsenal counterparts ever since.
The rivalry was stoked when West Ham twice beat Arsenal in the first half of last season.
First the Hammers ran out 3-1 winners in the Carabao Cup at the London Stadium. Then there was a famous 2-0 win at the Emirates which ultimately played a big part in stopping Arsenal winning the title.
The Gunners got their revenge, though.
West Ham fans had to suffer the ignominy of watching Arsenal inflict one of their worst ever defeats with a 6-0 humbling at the London Stadium earlier this year.
Rice poured salt in the wound by scoring a thunderbolt strike from outside the box.
Much to the delight of Arsenal fans who relished rubbing that salt deeper into the wound with a cruel Rice chant to the West Ham fans.
It all makes for a more intense rivalry between two London clubs who usually embrace a mutual dislike of another team from north London.
That rivalry will be renewed next month when Rice and the Gunners come to east London in the Premier League.
Now West Ham fans planning to unfurl giant Tifo against Arsenal as they crowdfund to pay for it.
West Ham fans planning to unfurl giant Tifo against Arsenal
The Hammers may have one of the biggest stadiums in the country, but it’s not been without its problems.
A major bone of contention for Hammers fans is the distance between the upper and lower tiers in places and from the terraces to the pitch.
Especially having gone from Upton Park, where supporters were almost on top of the players on the pitch, to the bowl-shaped London Stadium.
There has been in-fighting, pitch invasions and protests with the stadium the issue at the heart of the grievances.
But the biggest shift has been the atmosphere.
It has taken years of adjustment and the atmosphere can suffer at times.
Make no mistake, there have been some electric, memorable games and nights for West Ham at the London Stadium.
But that has been sorely lacking so far this season under new boss Julen Lopetegui.
So Hammers fans – like Arsenal’s have been doing at the Emirates in recent seasons – have taken it upon themselves to do something about it.
West Ham fan group The Ironworks Alliance is desperate to try and improve the matchday atmosphere at the London Stadium.
The Hammers faithful are not usually ones for gimmicks, flags or drums and the like.
But Ironworks Alliance has come up with a plan for a huge Tifo fan display when Arsenal come to the London Stadium.
In an announcement, the group says the giant display will be unfurled in front of Rice and co for the November 30th clash because it is ‘the right time and right occasion’.
‘Arsenal game the perfect occasion to unleash Hammers tifo’
Ironworks Alliance had planned to do the display against Man United. But they now say Arsenal is the perfect game to ‘unleash’ the display.
“After much deliberation, we have opted to move our first fan funded and designed display to the Arsenal game on Saturday 30th November,” the group said.
“This feels like the natural time to unleash our first display. Saturday evening against a London rival under the lights will be a big occasion. Let’s make the London Stadium electric before kick-off.
“We also want to make sure that the “save our concessions” campaign is not impacted in any way. Delaying the display allows both campaigns to run parallel without either getting in the way of the other.
“Rest assured, our display is happening. But at the right time and occasion.”
The impressive claret and blue display design will have the year West Ham were founded – 1895 – either side of a crossed Hammers.
Underneath are the words ‘The hotter the furnace, the stronger the Iron’.
West Ham have given the group permission to do the display.
The group has set a fundraising target of £3,000 to pay for materials in order to get the Tifo ready for the Gunners clash. They have raised just under £2,000 so far.
The IA recently revealed how the display will look in the post below, when it was originally planned for the Man United clash.
Ironworks Alliance has also produced a video on its YouTube channel about the initiative.
On its dedicated fundraising page the group revealed West Ham have granted them permission for the fan funded crowd display.
But now it is up to fan power to make it happen.
“We can’t do displays without your help!” the page reads.
“After positive discussions, Ironworks Alliance (IWA) have now been granted permission to organise a fan funded crowd display for the first time! This presents the West Ham fanbase with an opportunity to reignite our passion and identity within the London Stadium.
“Expected costs: £2700 (display materials) +£300 (logistics and administration).
“Target game: Arsenal (h). Date: Saturday, 30th November 2024
“Please donate and help us transcend the stands into a wall of claret and blue. 100% of the donations will go towards the crowd display. Ironworks Alliance are FSA members and are working in conjunction with West Ham staff to improve the match day atmosphere.
“We can’t do displays without your help!”
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