Arsenal Women’s decision to embrace the Emirates Stadium is increasingly looking like far more than an attendance success story, with new financial figures revealing a matchday advantage unmatched across the Women’s Super League.
Arsenal recorded turnover of £21.54million for the year ending May 2025, up from £15.26m in the previous financial period.
The Guardian’s analysis of the latest WSL accounts also puts Arsenal’s matchday revenue at £5.9m, comfortably the highest figure among clubs to publish detailed accounts.
That income provides a striking measure of how valuable Arsenal’s ability to attract significant crowds to the Emirates has become.
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Arsenal Women revenue highlights Emirates advantage
Arsenal generated £5.9m from matchdays during 2024/25, up from £4.35m a year earlier.
Chelsea, the closest financial rival overall, generated £3.01m from matchdays. Manchester City recorded £1.97m, Manchester United £1.22m and Tottenham only £433,000.
Arsenal’s total turnover of £21.54m also narrowly exceeded Chelsea’s £21.31m.
The wage figures make the comparison even more interesting.
Arsenal spent £11.32m on wages, equivalent to 53 per cent of revenue, while Chelsea’s £14.52m wage bill represented 68 per cent of their turnover.
Arsenal ultimately recorded a £22,000 post-tax profit for the period.
There are important caveats. The accounts also contain £11.9m of group income, while Champions League success contributed significantly to broadcast revenue. Arsenal remain reliant on financial backing from parent company KSE UK Inc.
Yet matchday income is one area where Arsenal have built an advantage through supporters rather than simply ownership spending.
ReadArsenal previously examined how moving all 13 WSL home fixtures to Emirates Stadium for 2026/27 would turn Arsenal’s attendance growth into a major commercial test.
These figures suggest the foundations were already in place.
All 13 Emirates games could widen Arsenal’s lead
The financial data relates to 2024/25. Arsenal have since gone considerably further.
Arsenal’s official ticketing information confirms all 13 WSL home matches will be played at Emirates Stadium in 2026/27, giving Renée Slegers’ side the same permanent league-stage platform across the campaign.
That creates room for further growth in ticket sales, hospitality and the broader commercial value attached to Arsenal Women matchdays.
Chelsea are moving in the same direction by taking all league home matches to Stamford Bridge, but their latest £3.01m matchday figure still sits well below Arsenal’s.
Tottenham’s £433,000 provides an even sharper contrast. Their matchday revenue was less than one-tenth of Arsenal’s despite access to a modern 60,000-seat stadium.
Arsenal have therefore managed something more difficult than simply having a large ground available. They have developed sufficient demand to use it regularly.
Slegers’ rebuilt squad is now preparing for the new campaign, with ReadArsenal reporting this morning on a 2-1 pre-season victory over Manchester City in which summer signing Lisa Baum scored the winner.
The sporting ambition is obvious.
These accounts suggest the commercial operation is beginning to match it.
Arsenal’s Emirates strategy has created a revenue stream their WSL rivals are now attempting to reproduce. With every league home fixture moving there this season, the gap could become even more significant.
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