Two Arsenal fans have been banned from football matches for an altercation with police at the Emirates which was prompted by the fact they were standing during the game.
It is fair to say there was more to the incident at the home game against Manchester United than simply the fact that they wouldn’t sit down and you can read a full report here.
But it does prompt the question should Arsenal seriously consider a standing area where those Gooners who persistently stand – and let’s face it there are enough of them – can stay on their feet until their hearts are content.
It’s not a subject that hasn’t been looked at before, of course. We – and others – have reported that Chief exec Ivan Gazidis is open to the idea of a standing area. He told an Arsenal Supporters Trust meeting that it was right to debate the return of terracing as long as it did not compromise fans’ safety.
He said: “It is something that I have always been open to. The more I learn about it, the more complex an issue it is, but viscerally it is something that I find attractive because it gives fans, a certain group of fans who like to stand who create the atmosphere, another way to be in our stadium.
“Why would you be against that, if you can do it safely? There are some issues, some very practical issues around safe standing; the rake of the stands and so on, that may make it cost prohibitive if it is not designed into the stadium at the beginning, but it is not something I am close minded to and I am prepared to explore it.”
No-one wants to see Arsenal fans barred from seeing the club they love so what about it, Mr Gazidis?
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
