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The Arsenal Supports Trust have complained over what they deem an “unacceptable” kick-off time for their Europa League clash with BATE.
The Gunners will begin the second leg against the Belarusian side at the Emirates at 5:55pm.
The time has caused uproar amongst fans, many of whom claim they simply cannot attend due to work commmitments.
The AST sent a letter to UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin to voice their concern, as well urging BT Sport to consider joining them.
The likelihood of thousands of empty seats could damage the product, the AST argue.
Show all 25 1 /25BATE vs Arsenal player ratings BATE vs Arsenal player ratings BATE vs Arsenal player ratings We run the rule over the two teams.
Natalia Fedosenko/TASS
BATE vs Arsenal player ratings BATE player ratings
REUTERS
BATE vs Arsenal player ratings Scherbitski – 7 out of 10 Had a busy evening but performed well when called upon. Did very well to prevent Mkhitaryan from opening the scoring in the first-half.
REUTERS
BATE vs Arsenal player ratings Rios - 7 Solid in defence. Had a very good chance to open the scoring early on only to hit his low shot directly at Iwobi.
AP
BATE vs Arsenal player ratings Volkov - 6 Composed at the back and dealt with Arsenal’s endless waves of attacks very well.
AP
BATE vs Arsenal player ratings Filipenko - 7 Kept busy and conceded some needless fouls, although can be pleased with his night's work.
AP
BATE vs Arsenal player ratings Filipovic - 7 A busy evening and conceded some needless fouls.
AP
BATE vs Arsenal player ratings Baga - 7 Almost handed Arsenal the lead when he messed up clearing the ball at the near post, offering Kolasinac the chance to shoot on goal.
EPA
BATE vs Arsenal player ratings Dragun - 8 Opened the scoring in fine fashion. Stormed ahead of Kolasinac to meet Stasevich’s cross and powered a header beyond Cech.
AP
BATE vs Arsenal player ratings Hleb - 7 Obviously not the player he once was, but the former Arsenal man did well on the break before being withsrawn midway through the second-half.
AP
BATE vs Arsenal player ratings Milic - 7 Did well on his first appearance for BATE. Was lively on the counter-attack and was unlucky to see how low shot bobble past Cech’s post midway through the first-half.
EPA
BATE vs Arsenal player ratings Skavysh - 7 Rapid on the counter-attack and drew a foul from Xhaka, who appeared surprised by his pace on the break.
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
BATE vs Arsenal player ratings Stasevich - 8 BATE’s captain led from the front, drifting in an inch-perfect cross for the home side’s opening goal.
EPA
BATE vs Arsenal player ratings Arsenal player ratings
Getty / Independent
BATE vs Arsenal player ratings Cech - 6 Reacted quickly to cut out Skavysh’s cross early on. Could do very little to keep out Dragun’s powerful header.
REUTERS
BATE vs Arsenal player ratings Mustafi - 7 Had an excellent chance to open the scoring at the beginning of the second-half only to completely fluff his lines. Nodded just wide in the first-half.
AP
BATE vs Arsenal player ratings Koscielny - 6 Not his finest game. Struggled with his footing throughout.
REUTERS
BATE vs Arsenal player ratings Monreal - 6 Not the most natural centre-back but did well enough, although was guilty of attempting to play too many Hollywood long passes forward.
REUTERS
BATE vs Arsenal player ratings Maitland-Niles - 6 The youngster is still learning his trade at right-back and this wasn’t his finest game. Sloppy in possession – no Arsenal player gave the ball away more.
REUTERS
BATE vs Arsenal player ratings Guendouzi - 7 A difficult evening for the youngster but was at the heart of everything Arsenal did well, and at least attempted to maintain the pace by repeatedly threading balls forward.
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BATE vs Arsenal player ratings Xhaka - 6 Poor. Made little impact before being hauled off in the second-half. Booked.
Getty / Independent
BATE vs Arsenal player ratings Kolasinac - 7 Arsenal’s best player. Rampaged forward often and should have opened the scoring only to drill a shot wide. Made an incredible SEVEN key passes – four more than any other Arsenal player.
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
BATE vs Arsenal player ratings Mkhitaryan - 6 A tidy enough performance – but then isn’t that the problem? He just never seems to grab a game by the scruff of the neck and Arsenal sorely needed a leader here.
EPA
BATE vs Arsenal player ratings Iwobi - 6 Attempted to get the ball forward and worked tirelessly – although will inevitably be unfairly singled out as Arsenal’s scapegoat.
AP
BATE vs Arsenal player ratings Lacazette - 4 Had the ball in the back of the net in the second-half, only to be correctly ruled offside. Was then sent off late for mindlessly swinging his arm into a BATE defender. Will miss the second leg next week.
REUTERS
The group demanded: “Football has to stop putting tv companies ahead of match going fans.”
Moreover, Arsenal were criticised for not sanctioning refunds for fans who cannot attend the game.
The Emirates Stadium is set to have thousands of empty seats (EPA) The kick-off time was also branded as “not reasonable,” with an all-time low attendance now likely.
The Emirates’ 60,260 capacity could dip below the official lowest attendance of 44,064 from the 2017 League Cup tie vs Doncaster.
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