Arsenal fans could boycott Bayern Munich Champions League clash after tickets priced at astounding £132

The Gunners' fans have voiced their displeasure at the rising prices to watch football at the Emirates after the Champions League tickets were priced at £62-£132

Jack de Menezes
Friday 14 February 2014 07:04 EST
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Arsenal fans could boycott the Champions League clash with Bayern Munich after tickets were priced at £132
Arsenal fans could boycott the Champions League clash with Bayern Munich after tickets were priced at £132 (GETTY IMAGES)

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Arsenal fans could refuse to attend their biggest match of the season so far after the Premier League side priced their Champions League first-leg tie against Bayern Munich at a staggering £132.

The Gunners face the current European champions on Wednesday next week at the Emirates Stadium, and season-ticket holders will have to shell out between £62 and £132 if they want to see the hotly-anticipated encounter.

Arsenal already have the highest season-ticket prices in the Premier League, with the current fee set to increase again in the summer, much to the dismay of the Emirates regulars. Fans have protested against the rising prices, especially towards the end of last season when the side faltered in all competitions before securing a fourth-place finish on the final day of the season.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Arsenal season-ticket holder Steven Maxwell said: “I take no pleasure in doing this. It’s like fighting with a loved one. Arsenal are like a girlfriend who doesn’t love you back.”

Maxwell is one of a number who pay £1,995 for a gold-level ticket, and the Arsenal Supporters’ Trust spokesman admitted his concern over the rate that stands as the highest season-ticket price in world football.

“We are very concerned,” said Maxwell. “Season-ticket holders have already paid up to £2,000 in advance — the highest in world football. Their commitment deserves better. Arsenal’s grasping approach will have a detrimental effect on the noise in the ground, harming the team’s chances for an important game.

“Ivan Gazidis (Arsenal’s chief executive) promised that when commercial revenues rose it would reduce ticket price increases. To date, those are just empty words.”

The pricing is made all the more laughable after Bayern Munich announced they would subsidise every £62 ticket bought by an away fan by £24.60, with their season-tickets already priced at as little as £93.

Some areas of the crowd voiced their displeasure at the club’s recent drop in performance after such a promising start to the season, and while the boos may seem very premature given the Gunners are one point off Premier League leaders Chelsea, but the frustration stems from the fans paying such astronomical fees to see their side fail in the attempt to secure silverware.

With Wenger set to name a weakened side to face Liverpool in the FA Cup fifth round clash on Sunday, Arsenal could quite easily see their trophy prospects go from three to one if they suffer a heavy defeat to Bayern like they did a year ago.

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