Following Arsenal’s announcement of its ticketing policy for men’s matches next season, AISA issued the following statement.
| AISA has been party to discussions with the club as we are represented on the Arsenal Advisory Board alongside other supporters’ groups. Those discussions have been friendly but throughout we have maintained the position we set out in November last year when we backed the Football Supporters Association’s (FSA) call for a two-season ticket price freeze. So, we are disappointed that the club have decided to increase prices again (by an average of 3.9%) and at a time when so many football fans are still struggling with the increased cost of living. We do however, recognise and applaud the club’s commitment to retaining discounts for young supporters, disabled gunners, some limited concessions for older fans, and a continuing commitment to provide access to games to the local community. AISA supports the continuation of the 19 game and 23 game season ticket option and have pushed the club to allow members to sign up to the cup scheme at renewal, not part way through the season. So, we are pleased that they have listened to us and declared their intention ‘to enable eligible Season-Ticket holders to access cup schemes covering all competitions at the point of Season Ticket renewal’. But it is still disappointing that while those selecting the 19 game ST will have the right to buy Caribou (League) Cup, FA Cup and ECL group stage tickets, they will not have the opportunity to buy the Champions League knockout tickets except via the ballot. We believe both schemes (23 and 19 games ST) should carry the same rights and will continue to argue for this in future. We are very pleased that the club has finally committed to installing safe standing at the Emirates, at the Clock End next season and in the North Bank in season 27/28. AISA has long advocated for this and were active members of the working group the club created years ago to consider this. We agree that this should help improve the atmosphere, something AISA has also long been actively engaged with, and ensure a safe experience for supporters. We hope this will also help the club address the very real problem of encroachment in the stands, something which we have highlighted to the club on severaloccasions. AISA recognises the club’s review of price categorisation but remains unconvinced of the need for an A+ ticket category. We are glad that its proposed use is limited to CL quarter and semi-finals and will continue to press the club for fair pricing for cup games for all supporters. Finally, AISA would like to acknowledge that the club entered into a proper consultation about their ticketing strategy, putting aside several hours over a number of weeks to allow us to ask questions, consult our committee, and challenge the club on its plans. All of the supporters’ groups represented were bound by an NDA so could not (and indeed cannot) disclose any of the content of these meetings with members or the wider public. AISA recognises that the club takes fan engagement seriously, and genuinely tries to listen to what we say. The best way for you to have a voice in this is to be an active member of AISA, join our committee, come to our events, and help us shape the future of our relationship with Arsenal FC. For reference, this the position we set out in November 2025 AISA’s position on ticketing for season 2026/27 AISA supports the FSA’s call for a two-season ticket price freeze. AISA is determined that concessions must remain in place for disabled supporters. We would also like the club to look again at the implications of offering a small reduction in ticket price to those of State Pension age without having to move to the family section away from family & friends. AISA supports the club’s recent policy of offering discounts for young supporters and of providing tickets for the Arsenal community. AISA’s supports the 19 game ST option but would like to see improvements to the operation of the scheme and a smoother process for enabling ST holders to sign up for all cup tickets. AISA would like a full review of the away ticketing scheme to ensure a fair and transparent distribution of away tickets. AISA would like a review of category pricing, especially for CL games (group and KO). If the club is intending to put ID verification in place AISA urges the club to ensure that there is full consultation with supporters groups and any new policy must not be implemented until the system that underpins it has been successfully tested. AISA COMMITTEE February 2026 |