A BBC report last week reaffirmed the well known fact that Arsenal is the most expensive club to support in England. The cheapest season ticket, at £985, easily dwarves Arsenal’s Premier League rivals and, on average, an Arsenal fan living in London, attending every home game and spending on food, drinks and programmes, will part with well over £2000 a year.
The cost of an Arsenal season ticket is most likely calculated with two key components in mind. Firstly, the cost of putting on a quality match day experience. Arsenal, located in North London, under four miles from Charing Cross, is one of the most central of London’s fashionable sides.
London prices mean the cost of policing, catering, stewarding etc. will be greatly superior to most clubs in England. Furthermore, with a far bigger stadium than its London rivals, Arsenal has to pay for more of the aforementioned services.
The second key component in justifying high prices is the quality of football on show. Arsenal charge more than Crystal Palace largely because of its history and present as one of the best teams in the land.
Over the past few seasons, Arsenal haven’t necessarily had the best team in the country, a glaring understatement perhaps. Nevertheless, they have consistently had some of the best, if not the best, players in the league, notably Thierry Henry, Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie. Paying to watch these players in their prime was hardly questioned by most Arsenal fans, despite the odd outcry at home games.
Since 2008 however, when Arsenal came close to winning the league, the team has gradually, in many fans’ eyes, deteriorated. Sure, Fabregas, Nasri and van Persie, even Andrei Arshavin at times, demonstrated glimpses of world-class football, particularly the Dutchman during his last season at the Emirates. It felt too isolated, too infrequent, too individual.
The barren spell
The trophy-less period has been well reported, and does not need another rendition. In the context of this article however, it is important to state that while winning trophies is of course the main target, what fans strive for, it is not the be all and end all. In relation to high ticket prices, it is fine to pay if you are being entertained on a Saturday afternoon. Some of history’s great sides, Hungary in the 1950s, Brazil in the 1980s, even West Ham, famed in the 1960s and 1970s for playing good, attacking, football, won little, yet are still remembered fondly by fans and critics alike.
The last couple of seasons however have shown that fans are not willing to pay extortionate entry prices unless the quality matches the entry. Notably, when Man City sent back a large proportion of their ticket allocation, Arsenal fans felt compelled to join the protest. It was by no means a coincidence. The resentment stemmed largely from torrid performances, not money.
Several performances, memorably Schalke at home in the Champions League, a one-nil reverse against Norwich, and two cup defeats against lower league opposition, drove Arsenal fans to the brink of despair. Of course the ticket prices were the focus of the action, but fans do not protest when their team is playing well.
Anecdotal evidence backs this view. Several friends and acquaintances with season tickets told me they were thinking of giving up their memberships. Not one mentioned money; in fact the key response was “I just can’t be bothered” - a reaction born out of unacceptable on-field displays.
Ozil the saviour
The last ten games of last season, after the defeat at Tottenham, restored the faith of many Arsenal fans. Arsenal played above all with a passion and desire often lacking. There was quality at times, but the key reason for Arsenal overtaking their North London rivals was sheer will.
The cry for a big name signing in this light takes on a new significance. Whilst of course big names usually mean quality, in Arsenal’s case, it was arguably a cry for excitement, like a child getting a new toy: one he doesn’t need, but one that will make him happier. Arsenal, in the eyes of most pundits, needed solid reinforcements, experienced internationals who would help plug gaps in the squad.
Instead they decided to placate the fans by bringing in a superstar in an unessential position. Ten minutes against Sunderland was enough however to show that the signing of Mesut Ozil has rekindled a flame at the Emirates. A fantastic first half, where the German glided across the pitch with guile and linked up with his teammates with an ease unbefitting of a player yet to train with his new cohorts, whetted Arsenal fans’ appetites.
Last season, watching Arsenal seemed a chore at times. We did it because it was normal, it was necessary, it was routine. Ozil, albeit after one appearance, has brought the best out of his new teammates and, ultimately, has restored pride, passion and excitement to Arsenal.
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