Johnny Nicholson on the Premier League: The sound that gives football meaning returns

Fan noise, gritless Gunners, Chelsea pedigree, Leeds Pogba-ed and Harry Who...?

A general view of the fans during the Premier League match at Old Trafford

Magnificent noise

From the first moments of the first game, to hear a real crowd at a Premier League game was to hear the sound that gives football meaning. The noise we had for so long taken for granted was back after an extended, much-mourned absence. Without fans, many struggled to see the point in matches being played at all, they all looked and sounded like training games. Not now. Now it all makes sense again. Football’s soul has returned.