
Five people have been arrested after an army of German football fans fought with police while storming into Arsenal's Emirates Stadium.

Around 20,000 FC Cologne supporters travelled to London for their club's Europa League clash tonight, but only 3,000 had tickets.

Mounted police tried to keep unruly crowds at bay, but video footage showed fans kicking down metal barriers and fighting with officers.

The authorities delayed kick off by an hour in the 'interest of crowd safety', with supporters temporarily stopped from entering the 60,000 seater ground.

However, witnesses said Cologne fans fought police on the terraces with shocking pictures showing groups of German supporters throwing themselves over stewards and goading police dog units.

Police arrested four people on suspicion of public order offences at the stadium, with additional officers drafted in to deal with the crowds.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: 'Officers are dealing with disorder at the Emirates Stadium where fans have gathered for the Arsenal vs FC Koln match. A policing plan is in place for the game. Additional officers have been deployed.'

Despite the trouble inside the stadium, the match did kick-off at the later time of 9.05pm.

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Cologne fans shout at stewards and opposing Arsenal supporters as violence erupts inside the Emirates Stadium

Baying police dogs bark at Koln fans inside the Emirates as crowd trouble mars the Europa League fixture this evening

Cologne fans sing and scream through a megaphone as they wait for the delayed kick off at the Emirates Stadium

Cologne fans kick down metal barriers and fight with police during crowd trouble outside the Emirates Stadium

A mounted police officer warns a fan to calm down as supporters make their way into the Emirates Stadium this evening

Riot Police hold a meeting outside the Emirates Stadium in north London, as Cologne fans clash with officers and stewards

Riot Police stand on guard as crowds of Cologne fans chant and sing inside the Emirates Stadium this evening

Cologne fans light a bright red flare as they cheer on their team at the Emirates Stadium in north London, this evening

The big screen in the Emirates Stadium informed fans that the Europa League clash would be delayed until 9.05pm

Arsenal announced on Twitter that the match would be delayed by an hour in the interests of 'crowd safety'

Speaking after the match, which Arsenal won 3-1, the Gunners' manager Arsene Wenger said Cologne supporters had been 'very clever' to enter the stadium undetected, with both sides likely to face UEFA charges in the coming days.

He said: 'I don't know how they managed to infiltrate our fans and get everywhere but they did that very well. I don't know if they went through Arsenal membership, on the internet... they did very well.'

A club spokeswoman added: 'We have to first inform ourselves and in the next few days we will talk about that.'

Arsenal supporter, and ITV's political editor, Robert Peston tweeted: 'These Cologne fans are a disgrace. Nazi salutes. Peeing in doorsteps. My European solidarity being tested.'

Earlier today swathes of the Cologne faithful, decked out in the team's colours of red and white, caused quite a scene when they marched through central London, flooding onto Oxford Street and through the narrow streets of Soho.

Most were keen to have a drink, sing and pose for photos, but a video posted online showed a nastier side to the day's football festivities.

The footage showed two men being kicked and punched during the build-up to the game, as tensions ran high.

There were also other reports of Cologne supporters making Nazi salutes and urinating in doorways as they made their way through the centre of the capital.

Hundreds of German fans took over Wardour Street in Soho shortly after 3pm this afternoon

The fans moved from Soho to Oxford Street before taking over Highbury Corner

Cologne supporters take over central London as hundreds march along Oxford Street hours before their clash against Arsenal

Cologne fans flock to Oxford Circus underground station as they head towards north London for tonight's match against Arsenal

Pictures have emerged of fans fighting as FC Cologne supporters marched through London today

Footage showed a man being kicked in the head while another is punched as he intervenes

Shoppers and workers looked on in shock as the large group of supporters marched to the beat of drums and waved flares before the scenes of violence emerged in central London.

They downed cans of lager, waved flags and scarves and took over the capital's busiest shopping district - before police moved them on to Islington and Highbury - close to the ground.

Highbury Corner in the north of the city was described as 'chaos' by the local council leader.

It is Cologne's first match in Europe for more than 20 years and their notorious fanatical supporters are determined to make the most of it.

It has been reported banks in Cologne ran out pounds sterling this week due to the demand from supporters planning to travel to London.

A huge number of visiting fans gathers in Soho after lunch before matching through the city

Raucous Cologne's fans march along Oxford Street ahead of their team's Europa League clash with Arsenal this evening

A sea of supporters in black and red shirts brought Oxford Street to a standstill this afternoon

Cologne fans belt out songs and enjoy a few drinks as they soak up the atmosphere before tonight's Europa League clash

Cologne fans wave a bright red flare and march to the beat of a drum as they enjoy a pre-match party in central London today

Londoners took to Twitter to complain about the fans after public transport routes were hit

The majority of the fans were singing songs and celebrating their day in London without violence however, and police said they have made no arrests.

A Met Police spokesman said: 'At around 15:00hrs on Thursday, 14 September a large group of football fans gathered in Oxford Street, W1.

'The group were at the location for about 30 minutes whilst they boarded public transport to travel to a football match this evening.

'They did throw bottles and let off flares, but there was no significant disorder, police were on scene and there have been no arrests. The group has now left the area.'

Hundreds of fans from Cologne's main team took over an area of central London this afternoon

Flares were set off as part of the centre of the capital was temporarily closed off by the group

Most of the German fans parading through the capital's streets in high spirits but scenes later turned ugly with violence breaking out

Traffic squeezes past crowds of spectators as they spill off pavements on Oxford Street and onto the busy road

Police survey the scene as crowds of Cologne supporters wave scarves and chant as they march through central London today

Cologne fans march through Soho en masse as they get in the party mood prior to the Europa League clash with Arsenal tonight

Three Cologne fans enjoy a pint at a pub in Islington, north London, before making their way to the Arsenal match this evening

Only 3,000 of the 20,000 fans who have travelled to London have tickets to the match, raising concerns about what the others will do once the game starts.

Arsenal have issued a warning to German fans saying that any away fans trying to get into the home fans end will be ejected.

A message on the Arsenal website said: 'Please note visiting supporters that purchase a ticket in the home end for this fixture are likely to be ejected from the stadium.

'We have made this decision following consultation with the police and to ensure we are in line with crowd segregation requirements.'

Like many of his friends, this Cologne fan belts out a song as he joins thousands of others on the streets of London

One Cologne fan has ripped off a traffic bollard during the booze-fuelled excitement on the streets of London today

Cologne fans pack the streets in north London as crowds make their way to the Emirates Stadium for tonight's clash

Friends chant and sing as Cologne fans flock to north London for the Europa League clash with Arsenal this evening

Cologne fans without a ticket for tonight's Europa League match against Arsenal stroll around Highbury Fields in north London

Police officers pose for a photo with Cologne fans as supporters enjoy a drink in Highbury Fields near the Emirates Stadium

Police officers create a human barrier as Cologne fans queue up to enter Arsenal's Emirates Stadium this evening

Mounted police survey the scene at the Emirates Stadium as thousands of Cologne fans make their way into the ground