Arsenal's Europa League opener with Cologne will go ahead after the game was delayed by an hour due to crowd trouble.
Arsenal confirmed the news, claiming it would be the "best and safest option" to go ahead with the match, after it was initially put on hold in the interest of crowd safety.
Cologne fans stormed the gates of the Emirates Stadium ahead of the game, due to kick-off at 8pm, and stewards feared they could end up in the home section.
At 8pm, Gunners supporters were expected to be inside the ground within fifteen minutes, and eventually made their way to their seats for the 9.05pm kick-off.
Confirming the game would go ahead, Arsenal head of communications Mark Gonnella said: "The players were relaxed and preparing for the game despite the delay.
"We let the fans into the stadium as everything was under control. We were aware about the large numbers of fans coming and try to avoid a situation where they wold be large numbers of supporters without tickets.
"The decision to go ahead was the best option and the safest option."
There was an initial delay on Arsenal fans being allowed into the Emirates, as early as 7pm, after they were forced to wait outside in large crowds ahead of the group game.
It has been reported that many Cologne fans had tickets for the home end, and were planning on jumping the barriers inside the Emirates to get into the away end with their own supporters.
A steward at inside the Emirates said: "I have seen more Cologne fans than Arsenal fans here tonight.
"The visiting fans are supposed to be in Sections K and L but a lot of Germans are wearing Arsenal shirts and trying to get in the Arsenal end."
Cologne fans have been making themselves heard all afternoon as 20,000 arrived in London ahead of the evening fixture.
Eyewitnesses said fans of the German club had been "making serious noise", singing with their hands held aloft, and some letting off flares, as they marched through the streets in and around Oxford Street.
The main groups appeared to be making their way to the stadium in North London ahead of kick-off - with huge crowds gathering in the vicinity of Highbury Corner.
But the scenes turned violent as fighting broke out on Wardour Street, Soho.
Men threw punches and tried to kick each other while fellow fans sang as they marched along the street.
While only around 3,000 tickets for the match went on sale, some estimates put the number of travelling supporters at nearer 20,000. Police later tonight estimated about 15,000 had attended.