September 17 – After a slightly underwhelming start to the season, attendances across the Premier League have surged back to familiar heights, with stadiums filled to an average of 98.19% over the weekend in matchday four.
The overall figure would have been even stronger were it not for another soft showing at Fulham’s Craven Cottage, where just 92.36% of seats were taken. Remove that outlier, and the league-wide average edges close to 99% – one of the highest weekly returns since Insideworldfootball began tracking capacities in August 2023.
There were three high flyers in the 99% club this week.
West Ham United scored another 99.9% attendance, though that population likely thinned considerably by the final whistle as the ten-man Hammers were convincingly beaten 0-3 by London rivals Tottenham.
Joining them were Newcastle, who picked up their first win of the season in front of a 99.7% crowd who were delightfully introduced to new striker Nick Woltemade. The young German headed home from close range to put his side in front against Wolves and begin a new era after the Isak saga left Toon fans with some strong opinions. The feeling is that Woltemade, playfully dubbed ‘Woltemessi’, has given them something to be excited about as the latest in a long line of impressive Newcastle strikers.
Arsenal join the other two in the 99% club with another strong showing as they hosted Nottingham Forest, now managed by former Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou. The routine 3-0 win puts them in touching distance of the part dogged, part lucky Liverpool, who kept their lead at the top of the league thanks to a 95th minute penalty from Mohamed Salah, which was coolly converted at Turf Moor.
Manchester City also saw numbers rise, with 52,534 turning out for the derby against United, an increase on the 51,785 who attended the Spurs fixture on Matchday 2.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1758108620labto1758108620ofdlr1758108620owedi1758108620sni@g1758108620niwe.1758108620yrrah1758108620