Arsenal v Cologne kick-off delayed by an hour following crowd trouble inside and outside the Emirates hours after thousands of German fans descended on London for Europa League clash

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Kick-off was delayed ahead of Arsenal and Cologne's Europa League match following crowd trouble at the Emirates.

Arsenal confirmed that the 8.05pm start would be put back an hour after Cologne supporters reportedly stormed the barriers at the north London stadium.  

'The kick-off of #AFCvCOL has been delayed by an hour in the interests of crowd safety,' Arsenal tweeted shortly after 7pm on Thursday. 

Arsenal confirmed on Thursday night that their game with Cologne had been delayed

Cologne supporters were stopped on a walkway as they tried to get to the Emirates 

One Cologne supporter was left with a bleeding head after being caught up in the incident

Officers guarded The Clock End, where the Cologne supporters arrived in their thousands

Two supporters are spoken to by a police officer ahead of the match on Thursday night

Police officers urge Cologne supporters to get back as they were held outside the Emirates

Cologne supporters were allowed into the stadium shortly before 8pm on Thursday night

Riot police moved into the section where the away fans had been housed after fights broke out

Cologne fans take over central London as they let off red flares before they play Arsenal

Once Cologne supporters were allowed into the ground a number of them clashed with stewards and Arsenal fans. Riot police soon moved in to stop any further outbreaks of trouble.

Reports over an hour before the game suggested that German fans were held back outside the stadium. They then broke past police lines and headed for the turnstiles. It is believed that at least one Cologne supporter was left with a bleeding head. 

Video footage also appeared to show away supporters attempting to break out of the police cordon outside of the Clock End, where they were being housed, to gain access to where Arsenal fans were gathering. Further footage also showed fans charging at an entrance to the stadium.

The German club were given an allocation of 2,900 but reports from the Emirates on Thursday evening suggested that close to 20,000 had planned on travelling to north London.

German football journalist Matt Ford tweeted: 'Despite calls from the lead 'capo' to stay calm,ultras have stormed the turnstiles. Barriers being thrown and police batons drawn.'

Cologne supporters parade along Oxford Street hours before the Europa League clash

A Cologne supporter with a red smoke canister on Highbury corner on Thursday afternoon

Fans of the German side chanted as they marched through central London ahead of the game 

The visiting fans were in tremendous spirits as they dominated London

Cologne fans congregate on an Islington street in the build-up to the game

One supporter collected a traffic bollard during the frivolities on Thursday

The ugly scenes came hours after thousands of supporters had descended on central London before kick-off.

Many had their faces covered while they chanted songs and let off red flares as the police tried to escort them away from shoppers and tourists surprised by their presence.

Filmmaker Ken Loach also filmed the fans marching by Noel Street.  

The veteran director posted on his Twitter feed: 'We just had this coming down the street. Koln fans arriving for a trip to the Emirates Stadium. Long walk!'  

Supporters line the roads of Islington, drinking and dancing, in anticipation of the game

Cologne fans march through Wardour Street in central London before they play Arsenal

Cologne haven't appeared in Europa League since 1993 and fans of the 'Billy Goats' are excited

The Germans have faced Arsenal before in European competition, playing Bertie Mee's Arsenal in the semi-finals of the European Fairs Cup during the club's first double season in 1970-71. 

With the club competing the two fronts they beat the Germans 2-1 in front of a Highbury crowd of 40,007 on March 9, 1971 before being knocked out of the competition on away goals after losing 1-0 in Cologne two weeks later. 

Links between the clubs include Arsenal forward Tony Woodcock playing for the Germans between 1979 and 1982 before he signed for Terry Neill's Arsenal.

Police attempt to control Cologne fans as they march down Wardour Street letting off flares

Fans of the Bundesliga club are preparing to watch Cologne in action at the Emirates Stadium

After playing 131 league games and netting 56 goals the forward nicknamed 'Woody' returned to the Billy Goats for a second spell in 1986 before signing for Fortuna Cologne.

Arsenal also played at the old Mungersdorf ground in 1996, before it was refurbished for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, when they faced the Billy Goats' near neighbours Borussia Monchengladbach.

The Gunners were defeated 3-2 after being 2-1 up at half-time, before Arsene Wenger told the team to change from a 3-5-2 system to 4-4-2 during the break as they were knocked-out 6-4 on aggregate.