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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger: Emirates Stadium's dwindling crowds are 'not a big concern'

Empty Emirates | Wenger watches on as thousands stay away in a match against Manchester City: AFP/Getty Images
Empty Emirates | Wenger watches on as thousands stay away in a match against Manchester City: AFP/Getty Images

Arsene Wenger has insisted that dwindling crowds at the Emirates Stadium are “not a big concern” as significant numbers of Arsenal supporters consistently eschew their matches.

Arsenal hit their record low attendance in September’s EFL Cup tie against Doncaster, when only 44,064 tickets have been sold. However Standard Sport understands that there have been games this season where even fewer fans have been in attendance, with fewer than half of the stadium’s 59,867 capacity filled for a Europa League game against BATE Borisov in December.

Recent Premier League games have seen thousands of empty seats and tickets are still available for Saturday’s London derby against West Ham, though the Europa League clash with Atletico Madrid on Thursday is sold out.

With a lengthy waiting list for season-tickets Wenger sees no cause for concern when he views the empty patches of seats around the Emirates.

“It's not a big concern because our crowd is very solid at the moment,” Wenger said. “We have played on some special days, we don't go for the league [title].

“I believe we have a very faithful crowd, very faithful fans, who will always be there and support the club. When you look at the renewal numbers for next season, they are absolutely outstanding.

"We are sold out in every single game so I don't know where the problem is at the moment. If you feel like next season it will not be the case, then we'll have to face it. But I believe that, if you look at our numbers and how much people want to renew tickets for next season, I don't believe that we have a major problem.

“We have a major problem at the moment because we're not in a position to win the league. That's our biggest problem. The biggest problem is not the number of fans who are behind the team."

Wenger also offered his backing for safe standing after the Premier League said on Wednesday that it needed more evidence that it has the backing of supporters.

A survey carried out by the Arsenal Supporters’ Trust last year showed 96 per cent of fans were in favour of safe standing and that three-quarters of them would want to use it. Wenger agrees with them.

“The atmosphere is much better when people stand. The closer you are to the position of the player, the more supportive you are,” he said.

“I think as well that it is a tradition of English football to have that, and overall, I must say it is much better.

“There are safety reasons that they don't do it and I can understand that, but if the safety is right, then it has my 100 per cent backing.”