Arsenal announce ticket price freeze

Prices at the Emirates Stadium have been criticised

Arsenal announced today that the club will not make any ticket price increases next season.

Arsenal's ticket prices became a subject of controversy earlier this month when Manchester City returned 912 unsold tickets to the Gunners for their clash at the Emirates Stadium, with City fans unhappy at the £62 asking price.

"The price freeze applies to all match ticket prices including season tickets in both general admission and club level," a statement from Arsenal read.

"Club level season ticket renewals will begin on February 12.

"The move follows a full review by the Arsenal board which included an assessment of the current economic environment and feedback from fans' groups."

City fans' complaints sparked a new campaign to curb rising ticket prices, but Arsene Wenger defended Arsenal's pricing policy, arguing that the club needed the money in order to continue competing with their rivals at the top of the Barclays Premier League.

The Gunners have some of the highest season ticket prices in the league, but have not delivered the success to match in recent seasons, having failed to win a trophy since moving to the Emirates in 2006.

Arsenal Supporters Trust welcomed the move, and urged the board to further ease the burden on fans by diverting some of the increased revenues from next season back into reducing tickets costs further.

A statement from the AST read: "AST welcomes Arsenal's decision to freeze prices and urges the club to continue to put downward pressure on ticket prices when other sources of revenue from TV deals and commercial deals are increasing.

"We are engaged in discussions with the club about the development of wider initiatives that offer cheaper tickets for young fans and make FA cup games more affordable."

The AST also called for a reduction in the cost of tickets for travelling fans, particularly given the criticism their club received when City returned their tickets.

"One urgent issue that must be urgently addressed is the price away fans are charged," the statement continued.

"Arsenal fans suffer from being charged very high prices wherever they go and the AST is pleased that fans from across the country are coming together to highlight this issue".

PA