Arsenal face a daunting walk through an intimidating tunnel covered in graffiti before taking the field for hostile Red Star Belgrade clash

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The Arsenal players and supporters are set to experience one of the most intense and intimidating atmospheres in world football when they take on Red Star Belgrade on Thursday night.

The Europa League clash sees the Gunners travel to the Majko Mitic Stadium, also known as the Marakana, where more than 50,000 Serbian fans will cheer their team on with the aid of pyrotechnics and banners.

If the Arsenal players are not aware of what they will be up against at this stage, they certainly will be when they take a walk down the stadium's lengthy tunnel before entering the bowl.

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The Gunners face a hostile atmosphere when they play Red Star Belgrade on Thursday night

The walk through the players tunnel will be an intimidating one for the Arsenal players

It takes more than a minute to walk from the dressing room to the pitch at 'Marakana' Stadium

After catching a glimpse of the field, players then head down a flight of stairs

They walk through a tunnel area covered in graffiti and with a cold, dark appearance

It takes more than a minute to make it from dressing room to the pitch, with the players walked through a concrete tunnel covered in graffiti, logos and, for big games such as their 'Eternal City' derby against Partizan Belgrade, a large number of armed police officers.  

The noise of the fans packed into the 55,000-seater arena can be heard as the teams file through the long, winding tunnel area which resembles a cross between an underground sewer and a derelict multi-story car park.

The loud bangs of fireworks can also be heard as the fan noise gets louder as the players move closer to the field, heading down a flight of stairs before climbing another set and entering the stadium

Jack Wilshere, pictured standing in front of the Red Star trophy cabinet at Majko Mitic Stadium

Armed police guard the corridor as the players head toward the entrance to the pitch

The players then head up a flight of stars and out onto the pitch ahead of kick-off

Once they enter the arena the players will be greeted by stands packed with supporters

Once the players have finally emerged from the bowels of the stadium, they will be greeted by a sea of flags, flares and fanatics as the home crowd raise the roof ahead of another home contest.

It will be a serious test for an Arsenal side who have had their commitment questioned already inside the last seven days, with Watford's Troy Deeney suggesting Arsene Wenger's side lack the 'cojones' for the fight after his Hornets downed the Gunners in the Premier League on Saturday.

Deeney said: 'Having a bit of cojones, I think the word is. Whenever I play against Arsenal – and this is just a personal thing – I go up and think "let me whack the first one, then we will see who wants it.' 

While the Europa League clash may lack the aggression, hatred and violence of those clashes with Partizan, Red Star games are notoriously hostile, with fans previously setting fire to parts of the stadium. But Arsenal will also be facing a side with a rich history of its own. 

The club was created by members of the Serbian United Antifascist Youth League and was formed from the remains of SK Jugoslavija after the club was disbanded following German occupation during the conflict. They inherited the crest of colours of the defunct club, with the logo featuring the red star which has given the modern day club its name.

Crvena Zvezda, as they are known in Serbian, currently top their domestic table, four points clear of bitter rivals Partizan, and are in a good position to add to the 27 domestic titles already to their name.

Flares and banners will be present throughout the stadium, adding to the atmosphere

They have been successful abroad, too, winning the European Cup in 1991 thanks to a penalty shootout victory over Marseille, following a 0-0 draw in Bari, Italy.

This side included many of the most prominent names in Red Star history, with Sinisa Mihajlovic, Robert Prosinecki, Vladimir Jugovic and Dejan Savicevic all playing in the game before going on to play for some of Europe's biggest clubs.

The side which conquered Europe was quickly broken up, as was Yugoslavia, with the years following being something of a tough period for the club given many of their big domestic rivals departed for new leagues following the break-up which made it increasingly difficult for Red Star to compete.

But titles have slowly but surely returned, including last season when they claimed the Serbian SuperLiga crown by six points from rivals Partizan.

There is a heavy police presence at games, particularly the Belgrade derby with Patrizan

Red Star have a good history in European football, lifting the European Cup in 1991

The club's famed youth academy has been a starting point for former Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic and Dejan Stankovic, previously of Inter, with the youth system the major source of talent for a club which relies heavily on domestic players. 

The current crop of Red Star players is built this way, with few names recognisable on the world stage. Arsenal fans will spot a Le Tallec on tonight's team-sheet, with Damien Le Tallec, brother of former Liverpool striker Anthony, having been at the club since 2016.

They are captained by Nenad Milijas, formerly of Wolves, while Nenad Krsticic and Richmond Boakye having experience at the likes of Sampdoria and Juventus.

But rather than the Red Star players, it's the atmosphere which will cause Arsenal the most trouble as the Gunners bid to keep up their 100 per cent record in Europe this season.

Former Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic (c) started his career at Red Star Belgrade