ARSENAL have been encouraged to slash ticket prices should they fail to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Arsene Wenger’s side are facing a battle to retain their top-four status and Arsenal Supporters Trust members on Wednesday met club officials to express concerns over the cost of seats at the Emirates.
Arsenal tickets are the most expensive in England and the AST are demanding prices for European games be substantially lowered if the club drop into the Europa League.
Seats for Champions League games this season have cost as much as £100.
The AST are also lobbying Arsenal to freeze ticket prices for domestic fixtures next season after the club infuriated fans last year by implementing a 6.5 per cent hike.
Meanwhile, majority shareholder Stan Kroenke will veto Alisher Usmanov’s attempt to gain a place on the Gunners board on Thursday.
Usmanov’s acquisition of the 16 shares crisis club Rangers had held in Arsenal for a century has taken his holding closer to 30 per cent. Achieving that mark would require the Russian billionaire to make a bid for the rest of the shares and allow him to look at the club’s accounts.
Kroenke — who owns 66.82 per cent of Arsenal shares — will reaffirm his opposition to Usmanov at a board meeting ton Thursday.
Usmanov has vowed to invest heavily in the club should he be allowed on to the board.
AST spokesman Tim Payton said: “They should invite Usmanov on to the board. He may have something to offer.” – Daily Mail