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Football London
Football London
Sport
Louie Chandler

Arsenal considering significant change to affect fans following Manchester United decision

Arsenal are considering following in the steps of Manchester United and introducing a minimum number of games season ticket holders must attend in a season.

The Red Devils will bring in the rule from the start of next season after as many as 7,000 seats were left empty at Old Trafford, despite all of them being sold or reserved by season-ticket holders.

As a result, the club have stated that fans with season tickets must attend at least 10 of the 19 home games - an approach Arsenal are also said to be considering.

Tickets can also be transferred to friends, family or the club charity without penalisation, however, in order to allow someone else to fill your seat.

"We want Old Trafford to be full and atmospheric for every game," a Manchester United club spokesman said, as reported by The Times.

"With season ticket prices frozen for the 11th consecutive season, it's not fair on fans who can't get tickets when seats are left empty.

"To address this, we have introduced to encourage season-ticket holders to use their seats whenever possible and transfer them to friends and family when they cannot."

Empty seats have been an issue at the Emirates Stadium in recent years. While the form of Arsenal will have no doubt contributed to some season-ticket holders choosing to stay away for some clashes, a club of Arsenal's size would still expect to fill their stadium more often than not.

Tim Payton of the Arsenal Supporters Trust also confirmed that they have pushed the Gunners for a similar approach for a while now, and that the club are considering the move.

"We have pushed for this for years," Payton told The Times.

"I know Arsenal are actively reviewing this and it would be the right thing to do.

"There is really no excuse [to leave empty seats] when tickets can be transferred and listed on the ticket exchange so easily."

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