Arsenal scrap plans to increase 2016-17 season ticket prices after fans' backlash at extra charge for match against Barcelona

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Arsenal have been forced to back down over an increase in their 2016-17 season ticket prices after being accused of misleading fans.

Supporters were left enraged when the club announced they would be making an additional charge to season tickets for the next campaign less than a month after claiming the cost would be frozen.

Following the threat of protest at their next home match, where they were planning on joining fans of their opponents Leicester City in leaving the Emirates Stadium empty for the first five minutes, as revealed by Sportsmail on Friday, Arsenal scrapped their plans.

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

But the club issued a statement on Friday to apologise for the confusion and backed down over the increase

They said in a statement: 'We have listened to our fans and recognise that there is confusion about the basis of our long-standing policy on charges for the seven cup games in our season ticket package.

'We believe that this policy, which last year resulted in a refund to fans and this year would result in a surcharge, is the fairest of the possible alternatives but we accept, on the basis of the reaction to our recent announcement, that we need to improve our supporters’ understanding of how the system works.

'It was never our intention that we would upset those fans who are amongst our most loyal supporters. Having listened to their feedback, we are announcing on this occasion that we will not ask fans to pay the additional amount due under our season ticket conditions for the game on February 23rd.'

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

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 infuriated fans who feel they were misled and disrespected.

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. 

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

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

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 spoke Sportsmail before the Gunners' statement on Friday night: 'We are supporting the Leicester fans' protest. The scale of online protest is like nothing I've seen before.'

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 were facing anger from the supporters

The timing came 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.