How to Get the Best Deals on Arsenal Football Tickets This Season

As a lifelong Arsenal supporter who's navigated the tricky waters of Premier League ticket purchasing for over a decade, I've learned that securing tickets to see the Gunners play at Emirates Stadium requires strategy, patience, and sometimes a bit of luck. Let me share what I've discovered through years of trial and error, including some methods that have saved me hundreds of pounds while ensuring I don't miss those crucial matches. The process can feel overwhelming at first - much like Genesis described when discussing his career move, "Sobrang hirap at habang proseso na pinagdaanan" - it's genuinely a difficult and lengthy process to navigate before you successfully get those coveted tickets.

First things first, understanding Arsenal's ticket distribution system is crucial. The club allocates approximately 57% of Emirates Stadium's 60,000+ seats to season ticket holders, which leaves roughly 25,000 tickets available for general sale per match, though this varies depending on the competition and opponent. What many newcomers don't realize is that becoming a Red Member, which costs about £35 annually, dramatically increases your chances compared to trying for general sale tickets without membership. I've found that Red Members get access to tickets about 3-4 weeks before each match, while general sale (if it even happens for popular matches) typically opens just 1-2 weeks beforehand when most tickets are already gone. The membership pays for itself if you attend even one match per season, as ticket prices for members are substantially lower than secondary market options.

Timing your purchase precisely makes all the difference. Based on my experience, the sweet spot for ticket releases is typically Tuesday mornings around 9:00 AM UK time for most Premier League matches. I set multiple alarms and ensure I'm logged into my account with payment details ready at least 15 minutes beforehand. The virtual waiting room system can be frustrating - sometimes you'll wait 45 minutes only to find tickets sold out - but persistence pays off. For high-profile matches against rivals like Tottenham or Chelsea, I've had better success logging in exactly when tickets release rather than joining the queue early, contrary to popular advice. The system seems to randomly assign positions in the queue anyway, so being there the moment tickets drop gives you at least a fighting chance before the queue forms.

Secondary markets require careful navigation. While platforms like Live Football Tickets and Football Ticket Net often have availability, their markups can be astronomical - I've seen £60 face-value tickets selling for £300+ for category A matches. My strategy involves monitoring these sites about 72 hours before kickoff when prices often drop significantly as sellers become desperate to offload tickets. For last-minute purchases, I've had surprising success with Twitter communities like @Arsenal_Tickets, where fellow fans sell at face value to avoid touting. The verification process there adds a layer of security, though you still need to be cautious of scammers. I estimate I've saved approximately £1,200 over three seasons using these community-based platforms instead of commercial resellers.

Flexibility in your match selection can lead to significant savings. Midweek fixtures, early Saturday kickoffs, and matches against less popular opponents typically have better availability and lower prices. For instance, I attended the Arsenal vs Crystal Palace Wednesday evening match last season for just £42 through official channels, while the equivalent weekend match against the same opponent was going for £85+ on secondary markets. The EFL Cup and early FA Cup rounds offer particularly good value - I've secured tickets for as low as £25 for these competitions, providing the authentic Emirates experience without the premium price tag. These less glamorous matches often deliver fantastic football anyway, with Mikel Arteta frequently fielding exciting youth players and squad members hungry to prove themselves.

Planning around the fixture calendar requires attention to detail. The Premier League typically announces fixture changes about 5-6 weeks in advance, but this can vary. I maintain a personal calendar tracking when TV broadcasters make their selections, as this dramatically affects kickoff times and dates. For those traveling to London specifically for matches, I recommend booking refundable accommodations until the fixture is confirmed, as I learned the hard way when a 3:00 PM Saturday match got moved to 12:30 PM Sunday, complicating my travel arrangements. The club's official hospitality packages, while pricier, guarantee seats and often include dining experiences - I splurged on this for the North London Derby last year and found it worthwhile for such a high-stakes match.

The digital ticketing system introduced in recent seasons has both simplified and complicated the process. While convenient, it has increased competition as geographical limitations have diminished - I've noticed tickets selling out faster since implementation. However, the transfer functionality between registered members has been a game-changer for group attendance. My pro tip: coordinate with 2-3 fellow supporters to all attempt ticket purchases simultaneously, then transfer tickets among your group once successful. This approach has increased our success rate to nearly 80% for standard Premier League matches compared to my solo attempt rate of around 35%.

What many fans don't realize is that persistence after initial sell-outs can pay dividends. The club regularly releases small batches of returned tickets in the days leading up to matches - I've secured seats for supposedly sold-out games by refreshing the ticket page persistently throughout the day. The 24-48 hour window before kickoff is particularly fruitful as season ticket holders who can't attend release their seats back into the pool. For those willing to take risks, showing up at the stadium about 90 minutes before kickoff sometimes yields opportunities from legitimate fans with spare tickets, though this approach works better for less popular matches.

Having navigated this process through Arsenal's ups and downs, I can confidently say that with the right approach, attending matches at Emirates Stadium remains accessible despite the challenges. The electrifying atmosphere when Gabriel Martinelli scores at the North Bank or when Bukayo Saka dribbles past defenders is worth every minute spent navigating the ticketing process. Like any worthwhile endeavor in life, whether changing careers as Genesis described or securing football tickets, the difficulty of the journey makes the success sweeter. Just remember to wear your lucky Arsenal socks on purchase day - I'm convinced mine have helped me through more than one tricky ticket queue.