Fans heading to the Emirates on Saturday will need a different route after Arsenal station on the Piccadilly line remained closed on Friday, 9 October, following damage to infrastructure inside the station. Signage at the entrance indicates the station is expected to stay shut through the weekend and into next week, ruling it out for Arsenal’s home game against Leeds United on Saturday, 10 October, which kicks off at 12.30pm.
What transport bosses have said
Transport for London (TfL) said the closure is due to damage within the station and that teams are assessing the problem. In a short update shared on Friday, TfL said it is working to reopen the station as quickly as possible, while the Underground’s director of asset performance delivery, Richard Jones, said staff are working around the clock on repairs.
No reopening date has been given, and TfL has not published a cause for the damage. Reports suggesting the station may be sinking remain unconfirmed, so supporters are better off checking official service updates before they travel.
Leeds United also published a travel update for supporters on Friday, 9 October, urging fans travelling to north London to plan ahead and check for alternative arrangements before the game. In other words, this is not a short morning closure — it will still be in place on matchday.
Alternative stations for Emirates fans
The most straightforward swap is Holloway Road, the next Piccadilly line stop from Arsenal, which keeps you on the same line and within walking distance of the stadium. Expect it to be busier than usual before kick-off and much busier after the final whistle, so allow extra time and follow any queuing systems in place.
Finsbury Park is the main interchange alternative. It is served by the Piccadilly and Victoria lines and by National Rail services, and offers more space and more onward options if one line is crowded. For many fans arriving from central London or King’s Cross, staying on the Victoria line to Finsbury Park and walking up to the Emirates may be quicker than changing onto a packed Piccadilly train.
Highbury & Islington, on the Victoria line and the Overground, is the third option highlighted for passengers. It is a longer walk to the stadium than Arsenal or Holloway Road, but it can help spread the crowd and may suit fans coming from east London or connecting from the Overground. Whichever route you choose, check the TfL Journey Planner before leaving and again on Saturday morning, as advice can change.
Tube tickets will be accepted on London buses while the station is shut, which may help for short hops between Finsbury Park, Holloway Road and Highbury. If you normally rely on Arsenal station after the match, consider walking straight to Finsbury Park or Highbury & Islington instead of joining the largest queue. Our recent coverage of severe delays on the Piccadilly line shows how quickly crowding can build on this line, and our report on TfL bus changes under consultation in Hackney is a reminder to double-check local bus stops before relying on them.
A station with football in its name
Arsenal is one of the few Underground stations named directly after a football club. It opened in 1906 as Gillespie Road and was renamed Arsenal in 1932, after the club’s move to nearby Highbury. The station building, designed in the Leslie Green style common to early Piccadilly line stations, still sits on Gillespie Road, a short walk from the Emirates, which has been Arsenal’s home since 2006. On normal matchdays it is the closest Tube stop for many supporters, which is why a weekend closure matters so much. Disruption here also affects local residents and businesses, much like the impact described when a passenger became unwell at Kilburn station earlier this month.
What to check before you travel
Before travelling on Saturday, check live Piccadilly and Victoria line status, allow extra time, and follow guidance from club stewards and station staff. If you are travelling with children, have mobility needs or are meeting friends inside the ground, build in a larger buffer than usual and agree a meeting point away from station entrances. There is no confirmed reopening time yet, so do not plan around Arsenal station reopening for the journey home.
Featured image: General area view of Arsenal station exterior, Gillespie Road. Photo: hugh llewelyn / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.
