18th February 2026
February 18 – Arsenal are to introduce safe standing at the Emirates Stadium, starting in the Clock End lower tier for both home and away supporters, in the 2026-27 season. The scheme will then extend to the North Bank, with around 13,500 fans expected to be using safe standing areas by 2027–28.
After more than a decade of campaigning. the Arsenal Supporters’ Trust (AST) said: “It shouldn’t have taken this long and some of the reasons Arsenal have put forward over the years for not introducing safe standing have been obstructive, but we give credit to (CEO) Rich Garlick and his executive team who have recognised the importance of the issue to fans. Club and fans can now move forward together.”
Safe standing has become one of the defining supporter issues of the modern Premier League era. For clubs, it offers improved atmosphere and safer, regulated conditions for fans who stand anyway. For supporters, it represents recognition that modern stadium safety and fan culture can coexist.
While the good news is that the club has responded to supporters’ requests. The bad news for Gunners fans is that the club will raise prices for a fifth consecutive year, with general admission and ‘Club Level’ seats increasing by an average of 3.9%. That follows a period between 2014 and 2022 when most prices were frozen.
“We are disappointed that the FSA’s ‘Protect the Fans, Protect the Game’ proposals calling for a ticket price freeze across all Premier League clubs has not been taken up,” the AST said. “Neither the Premier League nor Arsenal have seriously engaged with the idea that a freeze at all clubs would help stop the ‘arms race’.”
The trust added: “We firmly believe that with the football sector benefitting from ever-increasing broadcast and commercial revenues it is time to stop squeezing match-going supporters so hard.”
Arsenal insists they are protecting concessions for younger and senior fans, and will continue providing 1,000 free tickets to the local community, and are tweaking match categories to offset some costs.
Safe standing may finally be here. The wider question, as ever, is whether fans can truly afford to stand.
Contact the writer of this story at [moc.l1771377870labto1771377870ofdlr1771377870owedi1771377870sni@r1771377870etsbe1771377870w.kci1771377870n1771377870](javascript:;)