Arsenal told fans their season ticket prices were being frozen... so why are they adding an extra charge for tie against Barcelona?

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Arsenal have been accused of misleading their fans by increasing the cost of their 2016-17 season ticket less than a month after announcing the price would be frozen — and Sportsmail can reveal that the Emirates Stadium is set to be empty for the first five minutes of their next match.

The club were widely praised for announcing their decision not to increase the cost of their season ticket for the 2016-17 season on January 8. 'This decision reflects our ongoing aim to maintain a fair and balanced approach to our ticket pricing,' chief executive Ivan Gazidis boasted.

But Arsenal emailed season ticket holders on Thursday indicating they would now face an extra charge of between £7 and £30.

Arsenal supporters were frustrated to hear that they face a surcharge on tickets when they face Barcelona

Season-ticket holders at the Emirates Stadium have been told that they face an additional £7-£30 cost

They sent this email to one supporter: 'Due to the number of matches played this season and the categories assigned to them, there will be an additional cost to your season ticket for the 2016-17 of £18.19. This additional cost will be added to you renewal price for next season.'

The email explains that the increase is partly due to drawing Barcelona in the Champions League and that the cup fixtures they play 'could result in a refund or additional cost to the price of [a] season ticket.'

But the move has infuriated fans who feel they have been misled and disrespected.

Leicester City supporters have already planned a protest at their trip to the Emirates — Arsenal's next home fixture a week on Sunday — being rescheduled for coverage on Sky Sports, urging their fans to stay in the concourse for the opening five minutes and Arsenal supporters are arranging to join them.

This will follow Liverpool's planned protest in the 77th minute of their match against Sunderland at Anfield on Sunday for being charged £77 for their top-priced ticket next season as fans start taking a stand against club owners.

Arsenal Supporters Trust spokesman Tim Payton told Sportsmail: 'We are supporting the Leicester fans' protest. The scale of online protest is like nothing I've seen before.'

The move has infuriated supporters who say it is at odds with the sentiment of freezing season ticket prices

The visit of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Co has been deemed a big enough game to charge an additional fee

He added: 'Will (chief executive Ivan) Gazidis now retract the spin that season ticket prices were frozen now Arsenal have applied a surcharge equivalent to two per cent?

'All year Arsenal were preaching about the frozen season tickets. Then they send an email charging us a surcharge because of the Barcelona game. It's treating fans with disrespect.

'It used to be about the club, the concept we were all in it together, grew up out of mutual involvement, being part of local community. Now it's all about being a business.

'Part of why English football sells around the world is because of the fans, the noise, the sense of tribalism and passion. They have to make sure they get the mix right. The ever-increasing ticket prices and alienation is not getting the mix right.'

Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke (left) and chief executive Ivan Gazidis are facing anger from the supporters

The timing comes as a particular kick in the teeth after figures by Deloitte revealed that Arsenal are now generating more money on matchdays than any club in the world.

The revenue brought in by the 61,000-seater Emirates Stadium moved them ahead of Real Madrid and Barcelona after they made £101.84million last year.

Arsenal said in a statement: 'We believe this is the fairest way for us to run our 26 game season ticket package which is based on categorisation of matches. 

'This means in some seasons, such as last year, fans will get a refund on their season ticket price and others, such as this, will need to pay more. 

Arsenal fans will join Leicester City supporters in missing the first five minutes of their game next weekend

'For this current season, due to the number of matches played and the categories assigned to them, we have communicated to all season ticket holders that there will be an additional cost, which will be added to the season ticket price for next season.

'Each season ticket holder will be contacted to advise them of the figure which will be added to their renewal price for next season. This cost will range between £7 and £30.'

Arsenal officials also led the way in rejecting a proposed ticket cap of £30 for away games at a recent Premier League meeting in London. Payton added: 'Sadly Arsenal are at the forefront of that.'

But sources at the club have indicated that Arsenal do not feel a cap on away tickets is the best way to help supporters and want instead to see a pot of money, from the £8billion TV rights deal, shared between clubs to help them with away travel costs.