FC Zurich vs Arsenal will not only be remembered for the fact the Gunners won their opening UEFA Europa League game upon their return but for the sad news that unfortunately overshadowed the whole match and occasion.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's death was announced just after 6pm on Thursday, September 8, 2022, after it had been revealed earlier during the day that she was under 'medical supervision' at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. Her son Charles is now King Charles III as a result of this national tragedy. As the country enters a 12-day period of national mourning, sporting events over the weekend are likely to be postponed, meaning both the men's and women's sides are not likely to play out their fixtures against Everton and Man City, respectively.
Therefore, this win in Switzerland courtesy of goals from youngster Marquinhos and second-choice striker Eddie Nketiah may be the north Londoners' last taste of action until the PSV and Brentford games next week for Mikel Arteta's side. With these extraordinary circumstances taken into account, football.london looks into how the national media reported on Arsenal's win over Zurich while the news about the Queen circulated across the world.
READ MORE: Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham players send message to Queen Elizabeth II after death
The Guardian
'Arsenal's return to Europe passed smoothly in a game that will take a strange, unwanted place in history. A minute's silence won't have been conducted before too many other second halves, but before the restart, both sides' players linked arms and stood around the centre circle to commemorate the Queen. The news of her death had broken at the end of the opening period.
'A section of the away support performed a rendition of the national anthem, and the stadium staff had, to their credit, reacted quickly to show an image of the monarch on the big screens at both ends along with words of condolence.'
'Mikel Arteta will be pleased with how Arsenal handled their task against a limited FC Zürich and especially enthused by a revelatory debut from Marquinhos. The Brazilian winger, 19, scored their first and, after Mirlind Kryeziu had equalised with a penalty, created the winner for Eddie Nketiah. Arsenal did not overly feel the effects of seven changes and have taken early control of Group A.'
The Telegraph
'It was just as the half-time whistle blew in St Gallen that the news from Buckingham Palace was announced. The identity of the Queen's favourite football team has, of course, never been officially disclosed, but speculation in this regard has often leaned to Arsenal, stemming apparently from the Queen Mother's admiration for the England cricketer and former Arsenal player Denis Compton. Whatever the truth, Arsenal were the one English club in competition when the announcement of her death came and, during the half-time interval, it was agreed that there should be a minute's silence before play resumed.
'A photograph of the Queen was also shown on the screen at both ends of the stadium alongside the message: 'In memoriam: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 1926-2022'.
'The FC Zurich fans had been in boisterous voice throughout the first half, not least when flares were lit following an equalising goal in the 44th minute, and some would have been immediately unsure even what was happening as the period of silence began. There was noise from a minority of FC Zurich fans, and as Arsenal fans began to react with some booing, referee Mohammed Al-Hakim whistled for the largely respected period of silence to end and the match to restart.'
The Sun
'Arsenal and Zurich held a minute's silence to mark the passing of her majesty The Queen.
'The players from both teams gathered around the centre circle before the second half of their Europa League tie kicked off after the sad news broke while the match was already underway.
'The official announcement totally overshadowed the game, which saw Arsenal's return to European action after failing to qualify for the first time in 25 years last season.'
The Metro
'Arsenal and FC Zurich held a minute's silence for Queen Elizabeth II following her death on Thursday, but it was interrupted at the end by booing and jeering from the home supporters.
'The two teams lined up around the centre circle before the start of the second half of the Europa League clash to take part in a period of silence to mark the Queen's death.
'A black and white photo of Her Majesty was displayed on the big screen, with the referee's whistle beginning the moment of reflection.
'There seemed to be shock on the faces of a number of people in the stands, many of whom would only have discovered the news of the Queen's death via the stadium tannoy.
'While the silence was largely well observed, around 40 seconds into it, the home supporters appeared to become restless and started booing, jeering and whistling.
'That prompted the silence to end prematurely, with the players breaking apart and taking up their positions on the pitch before the full minute had passed.'
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