Football finance expert Kieran Maguire has delivered Arsenal a worrying financial verdict after they froze their season ticket prices.
The Gunners endured one of their worst seasons in recent memory, finishing eighth in the Premier League, meaning they will not play European football next season for the first time in 25 years.
Despite their poor exploits on the pitch, the club announced that they have frozen season ticket prices for the seventh successive season, and Maguire believes they won't be able to increase their matchday income until results turn around.
“If you are going to put up prices and in turn raise your matchday income, there has got to be a justification for that," he told Football Insider.
“Given, not just the ESL, but the entire season that Arsenal had, which was one of, shall we say, modest performances, how can you ask more from fans who are already paying the highest prices in the country?
“In the pre-Covid era, they were still earning £96million from matchday income in a 60,000-seater stadium.
“You can’t ask for premium prices and then add another two or three per cent on top of that if the quality of the product isn’t going up.”
Maguire's comments will add to Arsenal fans' frustration, with the Gunners' faithful becoming increasingly disillusioned at the club's dealings in recent times, feeling owners KSE should invest more and rely on fans less.
Despite questions surrounding Arsenal's financial situation the club have lodged bids for Brighton's Ben White and Anderlecht's Albert Sambi Lokonga in the last week.
While both bids were rebuffed football.london understands that the Gunners are preparing a fresh offer for White in the coming days.
There is further good news for Mikel Arteta as football.london also understands that Kieran Tierney has agreed a new five-year deal with the club, and will put pen-to-paper on the contract in the coming days.
The Scottish fullback has been a consistent performer for the North London club ever since he sealed a £25million move from Celtic two years ago.
