Arsenal's match vs. FC Koln delayed 'in the interest of crowd safety'

Arsenal's first Europa League match in over 15 years has been delayed by an hour to ensure "crowd safety," the Premier League side announced ahead of Thursday's encounter with FC Koln.

A brief statement on Twitter from Arsenal read: "The kickoff of #AFCvCOL has been delayed by an hour in the interests of crowd safety."

While the exact reason is not clear, various reports suggest thousands of ticketless FC Koln supporters have led to problems outside the Emirates Stadium in London.

Reports of fans crashing the gates were verified by videos showing FC Koln supporters storming barriers and attempting to kick in the doors leading into the Emirates.

Supporters were eventually allowed into the stadium, but violence erupted once again in the away end as Koln fans were captured fighting security officials.

While there's been no confirmation, there appears to be some doubt as to whether the match will go ahead.

Earlier in the day, videos emerged showing thousands of FC Koln fans marching down Oxford Street in London, presumably on their way to the game.

The march apparently came to end on a bridge near the stadium.

Arsenal last appeared in the Europa League, formerly known as the UEFA Cup, in 2000, and finished as runner-up to Galatasaray.