Arsenal make key trophy parade decision as 'up to one million fans expected'

Arsenal's open-top bus parade on Sunday will not include players lifting a trophy at the end.

The Gunners are deep in preparations for their victory parade on Sunday, having last week won the Premier League title.

Arsenal, and their fans, will hope to add the Champions League trophy to the collection on Saturday, when they face Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest to be crowned European champions.

The Gunners' top-flight triumph has already prompted wild scenes of celebration outside the Emirates Stadium, as fans flocked to the club's home both on Tuesday - upon confirmation of their title win - and again on Sunday - following the final game of the season.

Tens of thousands partied outside the ground across both days, but this weekend's trophy parade is expected to dwarf those numbers.

Speaking to members on Tuesday night, the Arsenal Supporters' Trust claimed that the club and Metropolitan Police after expecting at least 500,000 supporters to line the 9km-long route.

Martin Odegaard lifts the Premier League trophy (Getty)

That attendance figure, it has been estimated, could exceed one million.

Such huge numbers mean tough decisions must be made due to safety concerns.

To make sure fans are evenly spread across the route, Arsenal Supporters' Trust have confirmed that the parade will not have a designated end point where the squad will congregate off the buses and lift the trophy, or trophies.

Rather, the route is being planned so the parade can be enjoyed equally at any spot, with the hope that fans do not look to crowd in one area.

The club shop will also be closed.

Mikel Arteta thrown into the air by his players (Getty)

Arsenal will confirm exact details of the route on Wednesday.

The parade is expected to last around two hours from the 2pm BST start time and feature three buses. The women's team will also be involved to celebrate their FIFA Champions Cup win.

There has been some backlash over the timing, with many fans who make the trip to Budapest for the game likely to miss out on attending the parade.

Arsenal Supporters' Trust have confirmed that "there would be no agreement from authorities to hold such a big event on a working day."